Warriors and Serena Williams, tested but triumphant

Another game at Oracle Arena, another victory for the Warriors to extend their franchise record consecutive home wins to 19, but this one was way too close. Actually Golden State had a 14 point lead with three minutes left, but Boston fought back making it very uncomfortable as the Dubs held on 114-111.
First year Coach Steve Kerr gave credit to the Celtics who didn't give up, and to some tired players.
"They played a lot like us," said Kerr. "They kept fighting. They are a well coached team and they stayed with us. This is the point of the schedule where it gets really difficult to get up emotionally night after night."
Yet one thing champions never do is let us completely. Kerr was happy with the way his team met the challenge face on and did what they needed to finish on top.

Leading the way for the Warriors again was Klay Thompson who after setting a record Friday night had 31 points.
"We made some dumb mistakes at the end of the game that we have to fix," explained Thompson. "But we played well. Our effort was there and it was a good follow up to Friday's game."
Meanwhile in Melbourne at the Australian Open, top ranked Serena Williams also faced a tough challenger, Garbine Muguruza. The 20 year old Spaniard beat Williams at last year's French Open so this match was about revenge. However, Williams started sluggishly and Muguruza won the opening set 6-2 with hard hitting ground strokes. That's when the 18 time grand slam champion turns her game up another notch. Serving 16 aces, Williams took the second set, 6-3 and the third set 6-2.

"When I get down, I think of what I can do better," said Williams. "I have to solve the problem. Big things and big moments happen,I just have to figure out what she is doing and what I'm doing."
My tennis partner Joane and I won our match Saturday in Pleasanton, and we also used that strategy to change our play when our opponents found an opening with a 6-1, 6-3 victory.
Watching champions compete and rise to the challenge when tested is fuel for all of us.