Serena on song at Stanford
Serena Williams, playing her first WTA Tour match on US soil since
the 2009 US Open, made her return a victorious one with a 6-0, 6-0
victory over Australian Anastasia Rodionova.
Williams, a 13-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one,
was unfazed by her unseeded status as she battles to raise a ranking
that has plummeted in the wake of a layoff of 11 months with injuries
and illness.
The hardcourt tournament in Stanford is her third event since she won
Wimbledon in 2010 and she’s hoping it’s a stepping stone to good things
at the last Grand Slam of the season, the US Open in New York starting
August 29.
“Personally I have never taken this much time off,” said Williams,
who returned to action at Eastbourne and then played Wimbledon. “This is
totally different from any other time.”
Williams, now ranked 169th, encountered little resistance from
105th-ranked Rodionova, who has lost five straight matches.
“It was me being focused,” Williams said. “I’ve always said if I play
my best no one can beat me. Hopefully I can get back to that level.”
Williams plans to play in Cincinnati and Toronto before the US Open.
Her main goal, she said, is to play her best and let her ranking look
after itself.
“No. 1 is great but I really want to play well,” Williams said.
“Maybe this whole thing is teaching me to be patient.”
AFP
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