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Serena Williams, Agassi trying to make up for lost chances
Melbourne, Jan 12: For Serena Williams and Andre Agassi, just starting the Australian Open is an advance from last year.
Melbourne, Jan 12: For Serena Williams and Andre Agassi, just starting the Australian Open is an advance from last year.
Both suffered injuries on the eve of the 2002 open. That
wiped out any chance of Agassi winning three Australian opens in a row and, as it turned out, of Williams winning all four grand slam tournaments in one calendar year.
After twisting her right ankle chasing a drop shot in a Warm up tournament in Sydney last January, Williams became the dominant player on the women's tour. She lost only one set - to Australian Open winner Jennifer Capriati - on her way to winning the French and US opens and Wimbledon.
In the two weeks starting Monday, she is trying for a "Serena slam," which would make her the reigning champion of all four major tournaments. The last woman to do that was Steffi Graf, who added the 1994 Australian title to her victories in the other majors in 1993. Graf also is one of only three women who have won all four in one calendar year. She did that in 1988, following Maureen Connolly in 1953 and Margaret Court in 1970.
Serena wants to be the fourth. "I want to be undefeated" in 2003, she said.
That well could mean more victories against elder sister Venus, her victim in three grand slam finals last year. If they meet here, it also would be in the final since Venus, who has won four grand slam tournaments, is seeded second.
Bureau Report
After twisting her right ankle chasing a drop shot in a Warm up tournament in Sydney last January, Williams became the dominant player on the women's tour. She lost only one set - to Australian Open winner Jennifer Capriati - on her way to winning the French and US opens and Wimbledon.
In the two weeks starting Monday, she is trying for a "Serena slam," which would make her the reigning champion of all four major tournaments. The last woman to do that was Steffi Graf, who added the 1994 Australian title to her victories in the other majors in 1993. Graf also is one of only three women who have won all four in one calendar year. She did that in 1988, following Maureen Connolly in 1953 and Margaret Court in 1970.
Serena wants to be the fourth. "I want to be undefeated" in 2003, she said.
That well could mean more victories against elder sister Venus, her victim in three grand slam finals last year. If they meet here, it also would be in the final since Venus, who has won four grand slam tournaments, is seeded second.
Bureau Report