Serena Williams

an update on Serena's ankle (Jan 12):

Williams said “the ankle is better” during a promotional appearance Thursday.
“It’s not 100 percent, but it’s better than it was last week,” she said. “I feel great. And I feel like I’m really fit. And I feel like this is definitely some of the fittest I have been in my career.”
http://yhoo.it/AtWGV8

Serena Williams commenting on her injury:

"I’m disappointed to have to pull out of the Brisbane International. I have been to the hospital and it has been confirmed that I have a left ankle sprain that I probably shouldn’t play on. I’m going to take a couple of days off – not too many – and see how I feel. I’m still hopeful of playing the Australian Open. It was such an unexpected end to the tournament; I didn’t expect to be getting an MRI today. I’ve had a great time here in Brisbane – the tournament is great, the fans are fantastic and hopefully I’ll see them again next year.”

Serena Williams not relishing grind of another season

After winning the first match she’s played since her U.S. Open final defeat last September, Serena Williams admitted she’s dreading another season of grueling workouts but still can’t live without tennis.

She was asked after the match whether her four-month layoff indicated she may have fallen out of love with tennis.

“It’s not that I’ve fallen out of love. I’ve never really liked sports, I never understood how I became an athlete,” Williams said.

She added, laughing, that she’s never liked working out and “I don’t want anything that has to do with working physically.”

“If it involves sitting down or shopping I am excellent at that. I don’t love tennis today but I can’t live without it so I am still here.”

Williams has said previously that she plans to cut down on her schedule in 2012.

“I just want to be able to do other things I am doing and expand on that,” she said Monday. “I think that will help keep my motivation up. I have always been preparing myself for life after tennis.”

AP

Serena Williams to make Brisbane International debut

SERENA Williams will play in the Brisbane International for the first time and could face Samantha Stosur, who beat her in the final of the US Open

Williams, beaten by Stosur in a fiery final at Flushing Meadows in September, has signed up to make her Brisbane International debut in January.

The coup, set to be announced at the launch of the January 1-8 event today, sets up the possibility of a re-match, depending on the draw.

Stosur, who has already committed to the tournament at Tennyson's Queensland Tennis Centre, claimed her first major singles crown with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 win over former world No.1 Williams in New York.

The victory came after Stosur held her nerve against a tantrum-throwing Williams and a hostile crowd.

Williams had struck a forehand down the line to apparently save a break point in the first game of the second set and, with the ball still in flight, shouted: "C'mon on!"

When umpire Eva Asderaki issued a point penalty against Williams for potentially distracting her opponent, the American unleashed a verbal tirade at the official and swung the crowd her way.

While both players have made it clear they bear no hard feelings towards one another, Stosur can count on huge backing from her fellow Queenslanders as she begins building up to her home Grand Slam.

"Obviously my family and friends can come," Stosur said.

"But I know the Brisbane public are really behind me and every time I've played in Brisbane or the Gold Coast, anywhere in Queensland, they really get behind me."

The Brisbane International's elevation to a Premier-level event and the resulting boost in prizemoney is expected to attract other stars as they prepare for the Australian Open from January 16-29.

World No.2 Maria Sharapova has already agreed to launch her Australian Open lead-up in Brisbane.

Popular 2010 winner Kim Clijsters is yet to confirm a schedule ahead of her Australian Open defence in what could be her final season.

The 28-year-old mother of one is adamant her second retirement expected some time after she hopes to represent Belgium at the London Olympics next year will be final.

Bernard Tomic is already confirmed in the Brisbane men's draw.

The Gold Coast teenager, who has broken into the world's top 50 and is Australia's highest-ranked man at No.49, has never progressed beyond the first round.

He secured wildcards in the first three years of the Brisbane event.

But Tomic earned his place for next year off his ranking alone after a stellar year in which he reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals, losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.
http://bit.ly/pTw8Pd

Serena Williams is out of Beijing - can't find a reason for the withdrawal.

Let off extremely lightly...of course:

NEW YORK, Sept 12, AFP - Serena Williams has escaped with a fine of just $US2,000 ($A1,920) for her US Open final rant, when she launched an angry tirade against the chair umpire in her final defeat to Sam Stosur.
The American, who was under a Grand Slam probation for another outburst at the tournament in 2009, could have faced a ban if officials had deemed Sunday's tirade to be a ``major offence'' under the Grand Slam code of conduct.
Williams was handed a code violation by umpire Eva Asderaki after the first game of the second set against Stosur, when she had been docked a point for ``intentional hindrance'' when she screamed 'C'mon' before Stosur had a chance to put her racquet on the ball in a rally.
Williams berated Asderaki after the game and continued to complain bitterly during the subsequent changeover.
``US Open Tournament Referee Brian Earley has fined Serena Williams $2,000 following the code violation issued for verbal abuse during the women's singles final,'' the US Tennis Association said in a statement on Monday.
``This fine is consistent with similar offenses at Grand Slam events,'' said the USTA adding that the money would go to the Grand Slam Development fund.
Williams earned $1.4 million at the US Open.
Her runner-up prize money was $900,000 and she made a $500,000 bonus for finishing first in the standings of the US Open Series of hardcourt tune-up events in the weeks before the final Grand Slam of the season.
The USTA also said Grand Slam committee director Bill Babcock determined ``Williams' conduct ... does not rise to the level of a major offense.''
The 29-year-old American was under probation because of her profanity laced tirade in a 2009 semi-final against eventual champion Kim Clijsters.
Williams was also fined $82,500 for that incident.

Source: AAP.

Bartoli after losing to Serena at Stanford:

"She has really improved her level from Wimbledon," said Bartoli, who had taken down Serena at Wimbledon. "She beat [Maria] Sharapova and [Sabine] Lisicki easily [at Stanford] and everything is just better, her serve, her movement. I would pick Serena [as the US Open favorite] considering how many times she won there. Six weeks from now, she’ll be more than 10 percent better."

Update on Serena Williams from AAP:

Serena Williams continued her comeback on Tuesday night, taking part in singles and doubles in the World Team Tennis tournament.
Williams, who sat out almost a year with an assortment of health problems before returning to play the Eastbourne International prior to Wimbledon, beat Martina Hingis 5-3 to give the Washington Kastles an 18-15 lead over the New York Sportimes with only one men's doubles match remaining.
After arriving just in time for the start of play and getting no practice or warmup, Williams and partner Leander Paes lost the mixed doubles in a tiebreaker against Hingis and Travis Parrott.
Williams and Australia's Rennae Stubbs then won the women's doubles.

Serena Williams is now ranked 175, her lowest spot since 1997.

She's back....

Serena Williams will make her return from a year-long injury absence when she contests the Eastbourne tournament next week, signalling she should be fit to defend her Wimbledon title.
A statement from her management released on Tuesday said she will compete in the grasscourt event on England's south coast.
Williams has not played on tour since winning her 13th grand slam singles title at the All England Club last July.
``I am so excited to be healthy enough to compete again,'' Williams said in the statement.
``These past 12 months have been extremely tough and character building. I have so much to be grateful for. I'm thankful to my family, friends, and fans for all of their support.
``Serena's back!''

Source: AAP.