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Williams plays down injury scare

World No.1 Serena Williams insists she is fully fit for her Australian Open title defence despite needing treatment during training on Saturday.

Serena williams of the US talks to the media
World No.1 Serena Williams insists she is fully fit for her Australian Open title defence. (AAP)

Serena Williams insists she is "120, 130 per cent" ready to defend her Australian Open crown despite suffering another apparent injury scare.

After withdrawing from the Hopman Cup with knee inflammation, the world No.1 required courtside treatment during her practice session at Melbourne Park on Saturday.

But the 21-times grand slam champion played down concerns ahead of her tournament opener on Monday against Italian Camila Giorgi.

"I'm at 120, 130 per cent right now," Williams said.

"I don't have any inflammation anymore. It's actually really fine.

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"This week, the weeks leading up, has been a lot of work. I actually wanted to have an easy day today.

"But to me, in my mind, 'easy' is just two hours of really intense working out, yeah.

"I'm a little tired today. I've been working so hard and doing so much work, so ... maybe I had a bad attitude out there."

Williams, who hasn't completed a competitive match since her shock US Open semi-final loss in early September, also denied having endured a poor preparation for the season's first major.

"I've had a really good preparation," the American said.

"I mean, I didn't have the match play that I've wanted to have. But after playing for so many years on tour, I should be able to focus on that and the fact that I have played a lot of matches.

"So that's what I'm trying to focus on now."

Williams also brushed aside her rough draw after striking Giorgi, the highest-ranked player not seeded in the women's event.

The top seed could also run into Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals in an earlier-than-scheduled sequel to the pair's title clash last year.

"I always seem to have a tough draw, so it's fine. Doesn't matter who I play. At some point you have to play everyone," Williams said.

"That's how it always works out. So that's what it is."

Sharapova felt the same way on Saturday.

"I looked at the draw. Ultimately, you're bound to face somebody good from the first round on," said the Russian fifth seed.

Like Williams, Sharapova's Open lead-up has been dogged by injury, with the former champion and world No.1 pulling out of the Brisbane International with a forearm issue.

"Yes I might be more rusty," Sharapova said.

"But I've always been someone who treats practice as meaningful and I can take that into matches."

Sharapova also opens her campaign on Monday, up against Japan's Nao Hibino, the world No.58.


3 min read

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Source: AAP



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