Williams sisters strike fear into rivals

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US stars Serena, Venus seize limelight back from Belgian comeback queens Clijsters and Henin

MELBOURNE: The Williams sisters sent chills down the spines of their Australian Open rivals yesterday with both Serena and Venus demolishing first round opponents.

GOOD GAME: Venus (right) shakes hands with Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova after their match in Melbourne. — Reuters photo

GOOD GAME: Venus (right) shakes hands with Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova after their match in Melbourne. — Reuters photo

Top seed Serena thrashed Poland’s Urszula Radwanska 6-2, 6-1 in 73 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, while on the nearby Hisense Arena sixth seeded Venus took one minute less to dispatch highly-rated Czech Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-2. With Caroline Wozniacki, the fourth seed, and seventh ranked Victoria Azarenka having their first round matches postponed until today, Serena and Venus seized the limelight back from Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.

Serena, complete with a heavily strapped right thigh, blitzed her way past Radwanska and later insisted she would not change the way she behaved, despite playing under the threat of a Grand Slam suspension.

The defending champion, a four-time winner here, could be banned from future Grand Slams if she misbehaves after being hit with a US$92,000 fine and put on two years’ probation for abusing a linesperson at last year’s US Open.

“I don’t think I was quiet at all,” she said when asked whether she was more subdued during yesterday’s win because of the probation.

“I felt like I pumped my fist a little bit. I feel like I was definitely being who I could be, that’s all I can do.”

Playing with no sign of the left knee injury that hampered her last week in Sydney, Serena broke twice in the first set and three times in the second on her way to a comfortable victory.

The 28-year-old said later the strapping was just a precaution because of her age.

“I’ve been having it strapped all week, all last week as well … making sure I’m able to keep moving as best as I can,” she said.

Serena is a clear favourite to lift the trophy again but may well have to get past Venus in the semi-finals.

Her sister was equally impressive in her win over Safarova.

“I was playing a really talented player — everyone knows how well Lucie can hit the ball,” Venus said.

“I just wanted to stay focused and execute my game — a great way to start.”

Venus, whose best finish at the Australian Open was runner-up to Serena in 2003, looked in great shape physically as she broke Safarova twice in the first set and three times in the second.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion returned brilliantly throughout, putting enormous pressure on Safarova’s second serve, which crumbled badly as a result.

Almost forgotten in the wake of the Williams sisters were Serbian duo Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic.

Eighth seeded Jankovic downed Romanian Monica Niculescu 6-4, 6-0 and Ivanovic, the 2008 runner-up, was too good for American qualifier Shenay Perry 6-2, 6-3.

Jankovic is flying under the radar after coming into last year’s tournament as world number one.

The 24-year-old started slowly against Niculescu but found her range in the second set as she raced to an easy win.

“First matches are the toughest, especially after not competing for two months,” Jankovic said.

“You know, it’s nice to feel that rhythm again and feel that atmosphere and the pressure that you have from playing a real match.”

There was double celebration for Australia with 13th seed Samantha Stosur and wildcard Casey Dellacqua progressing, while Frenchwomen Marion Bartoli, the 11th seed, and 26th seed Aravane Rezai also went through. — AFP