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Serena shooting for Slam history
MELBOURNE, Jan 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Serena Williams has adopted a low
profile ahead of the Australian Open, but rival players admit the American’s
shadow looms large in Melbourne as she eyes a record-equalling 24th Grand
Slam crown.
Williams won her 23rd title and seventh at Melbourne Park while eight
weeks pregnant two years ago, and now attempts to match Margaret Court’s mark
of 24 singles majors on the Australian’s home soil.
The 37-year-old’s last outing on tour was her meltdown in losing the US
Open final to Naomi Osaka in September and she enters the season-opening Slam
as the 16th seed.
Yet she has proved in the past that such numbers mean little to her and
Osaka said most in the locker room believed the veteran remains the one to
beat in Melbourne.
“I’m pretty sure (that’s the case),” said the Japanese star.
“But there’s a group of players that I think everyone thinks is very
difficult to play against, especially in Grand Slams,” Osaka added.
Serena’s 2017 triumph Down Under gave her the outright Open-era record for
singles majors ahead of Steffi Graf’s 22, leaving only Court’s tally of 24
titles — 13 of which were earned in the amateur era before 1968 — for her
to chase.
Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki admitted Serena, already hailed by
many as the greatest of all time, was an unknown quantity in Melbourne after
sitting out the end of the 2018 season following the US Open blow-up.
“I haven’t seen her play a match, so I don’t really know,” Wozniacki
responded when quizzed about the American’s form. The Danish third seed
preferred to concentrate on her own prospects, dismissing concerns health
problems were affecting her game.
– Painful loss –
She achieved a career milestone last year to claim her maiden Grand Slam
at Melbourne Park, but also revealed she was suffering the debilitating auto-
immune condition rheumatoid arthritis. But the 28-year-old insisted she was
managing her illness and was relishing the prospect of defending her crown.
“All I can say is that I feel good. I feel like I’m hitting the ball
well,” she said.
Wozniacki’s vanquished opponent in last year’s final, Simona Halep,
arrives in Australia with the world number one ranking and her confidence
overflowing after winning the French Open.
The Romanian said she was untroubled by the back injury that curtailed her
2018 season and was mentally stronger as a result of last year’s loss in the
decider.
“I didn’t want to think that much about that match because it was really
painful to lose it, but I learned some things from that match,” she said.
“Now I know how to manage better if that happens again.”
– Mature Osaka –
Second-ranked Angelique Kerber has already indicated her priority for 2019
will be the French Open, the only Slam to elude the 30-year-old German in her
career.
Osaka is the leading contender among the younger generation of players,
warming up for Melbourne by making the semi-finals of the Brisbane
International.
While the 21-year-old has appeared level-headed since her breakthrough at
Flushing Meadows, she said she was still getting used to the spotlight.
“For me one of my biggest goals is to be more mature, like to mature as a
person,” the fourth seed said.
“I feel like in a way I am, but in other parts I’m very, like, three years
old mentality, you know? I feel like just levelling that out is one of my
biggest goals I had during the off-season.”
Local hopes will rest on Ashleigh Barty after the 22-year-old Queenslander
went on a seven-match winning streak before losing the final of the Sydney
International to Czech Petra Kvitova on Saturday.
Maria Sharapova has failed to impress since returning from a doping ban
and, now ranked 30, is looking some way from the player who won five Grand
Slams.
Two-time major champion and former number one Garbine Muguruza was another
who had an injury-blighted 2018 which saw her drop out of the top 10.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1025 hrs