Kerber lurks as Serena chases record Slam


Team Udayavani, Jan 15, 2017, 2:45 PM IST

Melbourne: Serena Williams has vowed to make life difficult for top seed Angelique Kerber and a host of dangerous players out to derail her at the Australian Open, warning she is in Melbourne to win. 

The American gets her quest for an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam title underway in a difficult first-round clash against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in forecast sweltering heat on Tuesday.

It will be one the few matches she has played after a four-month lay-off. 

But the 35-year-old, seeded two, is in fighting mood despite being bundled out in the second round of her only warm-up tournament, the Auckland Classic. 

“I didn’t come here to lose in the first round, or the second round, or at all,” she said on Saturday. “If I can play the way I’ve been practising, it will be fine. 

“I’ve been spending so much time on the court. It feels really good to be back, just hitting on Rod Laver (Arena), hitting on all the stadiums, it’s a good feeling. I love it here.” 

If she gets past Bencic, Williams could then encounter either in-form Briton Johanna Konta, who won this week’s Sydney International, or sixth seed Dominika Cibulkova in the quarter-finals. 

And then there’s Germany’s Kerber, who is scheduled to meet her in the final as the newly-engaged Williams looks to better Steffi Graf’s 22 Grand Slam singles titles by winning her seventh Australian crown. 

Kerber stunned the tennis great at Melbourne Park last year, upsetting her in the decider for her first major title before later replacing her as the world number one. 

That win sparked a memorable season for Kerber, who followed it up by claiming the US Open, where Williams crashed in the semi-finals and has barely played since. 

Kerber gets her campaign started against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko on a Monday evening centre court clash. 

But she has not had a good start to 2017, falling to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the Brisbane International quarter-finals, then slumping out in round two of the Sydney International to Russian teenager Darya Kasatkina. 

Despite this, she is confident of finding her best form over the next fortnight. 

“For me, I’m expecting the same as I was expecting the years before — going out there trying my best, fighting till the last point,” she said. 

“This is always how I’m playing, how I am. This will not be changing.” 

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Maharashtra Polls: Eknath Shinde targets Uddhav for `giving up’ Bal Thackeray’s principles for power

Will appear before Lokayukta for questioning in MUDA case, says CM Siddaramaiah

Lies have short life, Cong’s ‘fake’ narrative smashed: Fadnavis

Temple idols found desecrated in Hyderabad, case registered

SC junks plea against quashing of LOC issued to ex-house help of Sushant Singh Rajput

JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal to visit K’taka on Nov 7 to meet farmers protesting Waqf notices

Indian boxer Mandeep Jangra wins WBF’s world title

Related Articles More

IOA submits ‘Letter of Intent’ to host 2036 Olympics in India

Mohammed Shami’s return to competitive cricket delayed; not to play for Bengal against Karnataka, MP

IPL auction set to be held in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh at end of November

So proud of you: Ravindra reveals rare message from dad after NZ’s historic series win

Gautam Gambhir’s performance under scanner after disaster in Sri Lanka and India

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

MP Brijesh Chowta urges Kerala CM for strict action against attack on Edneer Swamiji’s vehicle

Mangaluru: Asiatic male lion arrives at Pilikula Zoo

Waqf Notice Issue: Not an accident, but state government’s conspiracy, claims V. Sunil Kumar

Wayanad Bypoll: Politics in country, Kerala not genuinely working for people, says Priyanka Gandhi

Malegaon blast trial: Court issues bailable warrant against Pragya Thakur

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.