Seles3
Jan 9th, 2004, 09:31 PM
Williams needs more time
Serena Williams will not defend her Australian Open title, she announced Friday.
"I really looked forward to competing in the Australian Open," Williams said in a statement. "However, after conferring with my trainers and coaches, we really don't think that I've had sufficient time to prepare and train for it. My knee feels great, but my rehabilitation took a little longer than I expected. I'm on the courts daily, and look forward to coming back in championship form."
Williams made history at last year by completing her "Serena Slam" in Melbourne. She became only the fifth woman to win four majors in a row.
She reached the semifinals of the French Open and won the title at Wimbledon before undergoing knee surgery on Aug. 1 for a partial tear in the mid-portion of the quadriceps tendon in her left knee.
Although Williams has not played any tournaments since the surgery, she's been actively pursuing her acting and design careers this fall. But the Williams family also has been distracted since suffering the loss of sister Yetunde Price, who was shot to death in September.
After being unable to play following the aggravation of an injury at Wimbledon, Venus Williams appears ready to attempt to win the Australian Open for the first time ever as she has advanced to the final of a warm-up event in Hong Kong.
The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam event of the season, begins on Jan. 18.
Serena Williams will not defend her Australian Open title, she announced Friday.
"I really looked forward to competing in the Australian Open," Williams said in a statement. "However, after conferring with my trainers and coaches, we really don't think that I've had sufficient time to prepare and train for it. My knee feels great, but my rehabilitation took a little longer than I expected. I'm on the courts daily, and look forward to coming back in championship form."
Williams made history at last year by completing her "Serena Slam" in Melbourne. She became only the fifth woman to win four majors in a row.
She reached the semifinals of the French Open and won the title at Wimbledon before undergoing knee surgery on Aug. 1 for a partial tear in the mid-portion of the quadriceps tendon in her left knee.
Although Williams has not played any tournaments since the surgery, she's been actively pursuing her acting and design careers this fall. But the Williams family also has been distracted since suffering the loss of sister Yetunde Price, who was shot to death in September.
After being unable to play following the aggravation of an injury at Wimbledon, Venus Williams appears ready to attempt to win the Australian Open for the first time ever as she has advanced to the final of a warm-up event in Hong Kong.
The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam event of the season, begins on Jan. 18.