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A class by herself
Serena will pick up where she left off. AP |
By David Clark
So Serena’s defeat of Emilie Loit was a little close for comfort. Serena was nervous because she’s never lost in the first round of a Grand Slam. She proved she’s just fine by bageling Els Callens in the second set Thursday. After she handles Tamarine Tanasugarn and the Eleni Daniilidou-Nathalie Dechy winner, she’s in the quarters. Even then, the Shaughnessys, Bovinas and Maleevas of the world just don’t compare.
Serena won three Grand Slams last year. And the only reason she didn’t win in Australia is because she didn’t play. Although she’s never won in Melbourne, she hasn’t exactly been Gustavo Kuerten. She has improved every year since 1998, when she had a breakout win against Irina Spirlea. As long as she’s healthy, who’s going to stop her? Last year’s champion, Jennifer Capriati? Out. Martina Hingis, who beat her two years ago? Not playing. Venus? Serena owned her last year. Kim Clijsters: 1-5 career against Serena.
Look at recent history. Serena lost only five matches last year. She’s head and shoulders above the rest. The key for Serena is avoiding unforced errors. What’s scary is she committed 55 against Loit and still won. As long as she remains cool, calm and collected, she’ll have her first Aussie Open title. And she wants it badly enough that she invented a term for what she’ll achieve: the "Serena Slam."
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Chinks in the armor
Serena has proved she's vulnerable. Adam Pretty/Getty Images |
By Patricia Heys
If her start is any indication, Serena Williams isn’t going to win the Australian Open -- in fact, she may not even make it to the finals.
In the first round, Williams survived a second-set tiebreaker as she struggled to beat 56th-ranked Emilie Loit of France 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5.
This rocky performance comes shortly after Williams declared that she would be undefeated in 2003 and win the Australian Open to complete a self-proclaimed “Serena Slam.” Cockiness may have worked for father Richard Williams, but Serena is destined to fall short of these lofty expectations.
First, as Williams demonstrated against Loit, she’s lacking composure. Williams was fined $1,500 by the ITF for swearing. There’s something to be said for enthusiasm, but the distractions of the mind will bring about a player’s downfall faster than anything else.
Second, with the biggest names in the women’s game either faltering or on the comeback trail, Serena’s most viable threat bears the same name.
Venus Williams may have played second fiddle to her younger sister in 2002, but the fiercest rival is a sibling rivalry. Serena will have to settle for a “Williams Slam.” |
