Monday December 30, 03:21 PM
Serena aims to go through 2003 unbeaten
By Ossian Shine
PERTH, Australia (Reuters) - Serena Williams blew away her holiday cobwebs at
the Hopman Cup on Monday, beating Uzbek Iroda Tulyaganova 6-3 6-2 to seal the
first victory of what she hopes will be an unbeaten 2003 season.
A gleaming, brilliant diamond in her belly button was the most dazzling element
of her 6-3 6-2 victory over Tulyaganova as she led the top-seeded United States
to a 3-0 whitewash.
The French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion has already set her sights on
what she calls a "Serena Slam" at the Australian Open in two weeks. Victory in
Melbourne would give her possession of all four Grand Slam titles.
After blowing kisses to the packed arena, the 21-year-old went one further by
telling fans she hoped to go through 2003 unbeaten.
"I do (want to be undefeated)," she said, "but it is going to be very hard.
"There are a lot of tough players so I am going to try my best and whatever
happens, happens. I just try to set myself goals."
Last year an 11th-hour ankle injury forced Williams to withdraw from the
opening grand slam of the season in Australia.
"My main dream now is the Australian Open," she said. "I've never been able to
win here but I would like to try. Let's just see what happens.
"So much mental energy for me goes into the grand slams and so at the end of
the year I was so fatigued," she said.
"I was just so tired. But now I am all rejuvenated...I'm all fresh and I've had
a long break."
WILLIAMS DEBUT
Making her debut in the A$1 million ($560,900) ITF mixed team competition, the
runaway world number one's singles victory eased the U.S. into a 1-0 lead over
qualifiers Uzbekistan in the Group A clash.
James Blake gave the top seeds an unassailable 2-0 lead when he beat Oleg
Ogorodov 2-6 7-5 6-1 in the men's singles before teaming up with Williams to
win the mixed doubles 6-3 6-1.
Having flown into the Western Australian capital on Sunday afternoon, Williams
started her singles a little sluggishly, handing her 55th-ranked opponent a
break in the very first game.
She grabbed it straight back, though, and eventually served out the set 6-3
with a powerful delivery on the half hour having broken the Uzbek once more in
the eighth game.
Reading hand-written notes during changeovers, Williams upped her concentration
and eased away in the second set.
Tulyaganova received courtside treatment for a sore elbow while trailing 4-1
but it was only postponing the inevitable.
Williams allowed her just one more game before wrapping up the match in 56
minutes.
嗯...."Serena Slam"....真是太強啦!!
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