The start of the Australian Open is less than 48 hours away and the top players, including the likes of Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic, are gearing up to put their best foot forward for the year’s first slam.
Serena Williams and her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand slam remains the highlight of the year’s opening slam, a quest that many have described being an extreme burden responsible for Serena’s dip in form.
And while the American legend is set to enter the 5th decade of her life, she maintains that she still is the best on the court while also giving the example of legendary quarterback Tom Brady who at 43, is all set to seeking his seventh Super Bowl title.
Serena not worried about the shoulder issue-
Serena’s comments came after her quarter-final win at the Yarra Valley Classic where she looked in ominous form — before pulling out of the tournament with a right shoulder injury.
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The American great said she would have to manage her shoulder through the Australian Open but was feeling “pretty good”.
“I’ve gotten a lot of treatment already on my shoulder,” Williams told reporters at Melbourne Park on Saturday. “But I’m super confident it`s going to be great. I`m feeling very confident, I think is a better word, and getting ready for hopefully the next two weeks.”
Sharing her views about the 24th slam “burden”, she said-“It’s definitely on my shoulders and on my mind. I think it`s good to be on my mind. I think it`s a different burden, I should say, on my shoulders because I`m used to it now. It’s more relaxing I would like to say, yeah.”
Williams, who opens her tournament against unseeded German Laura Siegemund, won the last of her 23 Grand Slam titles four years ago at Melbourne Park when in the early stages of pregnancy.
ATP CUP 2021-Its’s Russia vs Italy
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev came back after losing the first set to beat the German star Alexander Zverev 3-6 6-3 7-5 and take his team into the ATP Cup final.
Earlier, Russia’s Andrey Rublev had to battle hard as well to earn a 3-6 6-1 6-2 win over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
With the two wins, they marched into the final and will play Italy there who got the better of Rafael Nadal-less Spain.
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