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Tennis: ‘Super close’ Serena out of Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Jan 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Defending champion Serena Williams
pulled out of the Australian Open on Friday, saying she was “super close” but
still not at the level she needs to be after giving birth to her first child.
The American 23-time Grand Slam winner made a tentative return at an Abu
Dhabi exhibition late last month, losing to French Open champion Jelena
Ostapenko.
Prior to that her last competitive match was at the Australian Open final
almost a year ago, which she won despite being two months pregnant, memorably
beating sister Venus in the decider.
Since then, she has given birth to her first child and married Reddit co-
founder Alexis Ohanian at a star-studded wedding, where guests included
Beyonce and reality TV star Kim Kardashian.
“After competing in Abu Dhabi I realised that although I am super close,
I’m not where I personally want to be,” the 36-year-old said in a statement.
“My coach and team always said ‘only go to tournaments when you are
prepared to go all the way’.
“I can compete, but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better
than that and to do so, I will need a little more time.
“With that being said, and even though I am disappointed about it, I’ve
decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year,” she added.
Her withdrawal deprives the opening Grand Slam of the year of another
major star, after former world number one Andy Murray and Japan’s Kei
Nishikori both pulled out injured on Thursday.
In Abu Dhabi, Williams was clearly sluggish and had problems with her
serve. She also stuck mostly to the baseline and only twice charged the net.
Despite this, she made it clear afterwards that she missed being on court
and was desperate to play at Melbourne Park, where she has been crowned
champion seven times.
– ‘True champion’ –
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley expressed his admiration
for her efforts to return to the game she loves.
“The true champion Serena is has been demonstrated in the Herculean
efforts she has made over the past few months in her desire to play the
Australian Open,” he said.
“It was never going to be good enough for her to just compete, she wants
to give herself the best chance to win.
“I’ve been in constant contact with Serena and her team and know this is
why she has pushed it and pushed it until the eleventh hour to make her final
decision.”
Few players have successfully bounced back after giving birth, and even
fewer have managed to go on to win Grand Slam titles.
Williams can look to Margaret Court, Kim Clijsters, and Evonne Goolagong
Cawley as those who achieved the feat as mothers.
A key motivation for her is to match Court, who boasts 24 major titles and
is renowned as the most successful player in Grand Slam history, but this
must now wait until the French Open at the earliest.
The Australian Open starts on January 15, with a host of top names either
out or battling to be fit.
Murray has returned home after failing to recover from a hip injury
sustained last year, while Nishikori has been on the sidelines since August
due to a torn tendon in his right wrist.
World number one Rafael Nadal and six-time Australian Open champion Novak
Djokovic also have injury issues, having yet to play a competitive match this
year.
Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic, Johanna Konta, and Garbine Muguruza are among
others either on the comeback trail or fighting to be ready.
The irrepressible Roger Federer appears to be one of the few top names to
be fully fit, leading Switzerland into the Hopman Cup final with another
masterclass against top-10 rival Jack Sock in Perth on Thursday.
BSS/AFP/RY/07:55 hrs