MELBOURNE, Australia --The swing Serena Williams took was a
big one, even by her family's standards, and she made contact a
millisecond too early, driving the ball into the net.
Williams hopped up and down and slapped her thigh in dismay,
then took a deep breath.
"Calm down," she said to herself, and it was sound advice.
Only two rounds have been completed at the Australian Open, and
Williams needs to preserve some energy for the challenges to come.
She won impressively Thursday, dominating a slugfest with robust
Russian teen-ager Nadejda Petrova 6-3, 6-2. But tougher tests
await.
The sixth-seeded Williams could face Olympic silver medalist
Elena Dementieva in the fourth round, three-time champion Martina
Hingis in the quarterfinals, sister Venus Williams in the
semifinals and defending champion Lindsay Davenport in the final.
"I just play it as it comes," she said. "I think my game's
going to get better as the rounds go on."
Serena Williams has been overshadowed by her older sister in
recent months but remains a threat to win any tournament. She won
three singles events last year and teamed with Venus to win an
Olympic gold medal in doubles, but it's been 16 months since her
only Grand Slam title, at the U.S. Open.
Following three months off, Williams returned last week and
reached the Sydney quarterfinals before losing to Hingis. Rustiness
is evident in her erratic groundstrokes, with one shot a winner and
the next sailing four feet long.
She said she's not concerned.
"When the big match comes, when it comes down to a point where
you need it, I just really don't feel rusty anymore," she said.
"I feel like I'm there. That's what I need to feel."
Williams said she practiced a lot during her break.
"I'm trying to change and become a new player," she said.
"There are a lot of young people coming up who really have nothing
to lose. I know for sure that I'm going to have to improve and get
a new look. They think they know my game, but they really won't."
Williams was coy about what alterations she'll make. A
left-handed forehand? An underhand serve?
"I don't really like to talk about what I'm trying to change,"
she said. "I just think we should watch and see."
Against Petrova, Williams showed few new frills, relying mostly
on baseline muscle with an occasional trip to the net. Venus
scouted from in the stands. The next Williams sibling showdown is
perhaps three rounds away.
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