My neighbour said he knew he had to be saved from Serena Williams when she was the last thing on his mind when he went to bed and the first thing on his mind when he woke up on Sunday morning. He insists he’s not the only one bitten by the 24th Grand Slam ‘bug.’

How many are you altogether? I asked.

“You know she’s global, so the number must be approaching epidemic proportions

“Seriously?”

“You sound as if you don’t know. She’s big like that.”

“What exactly is the problem?”

“Our peace of mind.”

“How is that?”

“She’s toying with our emotions.”

“That’s unfair.”

“What’s unfair? Do you know how much we invested in each Grand slam final she played in?

Do you know how our emotions danced between Australia, France, London, and US, in dizzying twists? Losing four straight finals in a row. That’s unacceptable.”

“Wait a minute, what’s your own in all this?”

“What’s my own?”

“Yes, what’s your own? What else did she lose apart from the top prize?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did she win any prize money as runner up in those four finals?”

“Don’t go there.”

“Why not?”

“Nothing but the top prize is good enough for her.”

“What’s good enough for you? How does the 24th Grand Slam trophy sitting in her closet increase your well-being?”

“You don’t get it, do you? We want to rest the matter once and for all. That she got the 24th and matched the long-standing record.”

“Why do I not believe you?”

 “You don’t believe me?”

“No, I do not! For no sooner has she got the 24th than you would start urging her again to go for the 25th so that she will become unassailable.”

“What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong in encouraging others to reach for the highest, become the best possible they can be?”

“Nothing except that, in this case, you would have infected her with the same amount of unhealthy dose of competitiveness that has been threatening your well-being. Does she not deserve to be free from the same pressure we are complaining about?”

“You cannot want a better deal for her than we her fans.”

“If you say so but remember, Diana Andresscu, and other teenagers want to follow in the same path as Serena Williams, who was a teenage champion herself, many years ago. Do you remember how many famous players she defeated as a teen sensation? If you keep up with the obsession, the Serena only, Serena ever song, what hope do these teenagers have? I know you have a ready answer but don’t worry I know what will save us from Serena and what will save Serena from us.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Time, time will save us from Serena Williams and time will save Serena Williams from us.”