Serena fit, well and ready

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World No. 1 all set to defend crown from strong field led by Henin, Clijsters

MELBOURNE: Defending champion Serena Williams insists she is fit, well and ready to defend her Australian Open title from a strong field led by the returning Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters.Williams appeared to be struggling with a left knee problem in her Sydney International final loss to Elena Dementieva on Friday but was moving freely during a charity doubles match for the Haiti earthquake victims here yesterday.

“The knee is much better,” she said.

“I definitely want to do the best I can, obviously, but I also want to pace myself. Hopefully I can play seven single rounds and six double rounds.”

A dominant Williams crushed Dinara Safina in the final last year and went on to claim the Wimbledon title, improving her collection to 11 majors as she ended the season as world number one.

Opting to start her year in Sydney, the American insisted she didn’t feel any extra pressure with the Belgian pair coming out of retirement.

“It’s so good to see two such good players back. For me, my main goals are always to stay healthy and that’s a huge goal for any athlete.”

She starts her tournament against Poland’s Urszula Radwanska tomorrow as she guns for her fifth Australian title.

Williams is one of only three players in the field to have lifted the trophy — Maria Sharapova and Henin are the others.

World number two Safina is back to try and avenge her humiliating defeat to Williams in less than an hour last year, but she has been hampered by a back injury.

It forced her out of tennis in October but the Russian said all was now well.

“If I play my best, let’s see what can happen,” she said.

She leads a strong Russian challenge which also includes Svetlana Kuznetsova, Dementieva, and Vera Zvonareva — all top 10 players.

Also back in business after a long lay-off with a shoulder injury is Sharapova, the 2008 champion and former world number one.

She said she was excited about the year ahead.

“I honestly hope that this will be one of the most exciting years in women’s tennis,” she said.

“You have the story lines of the comebacks, you have the depth of the top 10. There’s many possibilities.”

Serena’s sister, Venus,  will also be a threat but it is the return to Melbourne of Clijsters and Henin that has whetted appetites.

Clijsters, a crowd favourite in Australia, retired in May 2007 to have a baby but made a partial comeback last year when she sensationally won the US Open.

This year is her first full season back and few will bet against her making the second week of the tournament after beating Henin to win the Brisbane International earlier this month.

“I was able to practise on centre court a little bit. It’s just nice to see that again because I never thought it would happen again, to be playing tennis here. It’s exciting,” said the popular Belgian.

Henin retired in May 2008 when world number one with seven Grand Slam titles, including the 2004 Australian Open, citing a lack of desire.

But the lure of the game has drawn her back and she looks as good as ever.

Now 27, she injured her leg late in the Brisbane final, and said she was taking it a day at a time.

“I feel like I’m still here to build my confidence again, and it will take probably a few weeks, maybe a few tournaments, maybe a few months, to really be at my top,” she said.

“It doesn’t mean I cannot win matches. That’s the attitude I got out of Brisbane. It’s been quite constructive. I’m here in Melbourne with the same attitude.” — AFP