Los Angeles, Nov 05: Regaining match toughness – both mental and physical - will be the biggest challenge facing Venus and Serena Williams when they return to tennis in January, players at the elite season-ending WTA championships predicted today.
"The most important thing will be to be mentally and physically match tough," said Jennifer Capriati, who has plenty of experience of returning to the game after a long break from competition.
"You can practice all you want, but there's nothing like the real thing. To get into the frame of mind of dominating and being confident is tough, because at first you'll probably be losing."
Both Williams are skipping the 3 million-dollar season finale at Staples Center recovering from injuries.
But they put in an appearance at a pre-tournament fashion show on Monday night and said they expected to be playing in the Australian Open in January.



"It's been a long road till now, but in general I feel well," said Venus, who has been nursing an abdominal strain.



"I'm obviously disappointed I couldn't be in the championships, but I guess the way I look at it, some things aren't always meant to be."



Williams said her recovery from the injury "took a lot longer than I ever would have imagined."


Bureau Report