TENNIS/Australian Open:Sightings of Serena Williams on a court dwindled to almost nothing last year - a mere four tournaments - and few would have been greatly encouraged by her 6-2, 6-1 win over Mara Santangelo on the opening day of the Australian Open. The 27th seed from Italy was shockingly inept against an opponent lacking competitive sharpness, having played only three matches since last year's US Open.
The last of Williams's seven slam titles was here two years ago, and since then she has failed to get beyond the last 16. A knee problem has persisted, and her interest in the sport has waned with the injury. She is ranked 81st in the world, and with her sister, Venus (48th), absent with a wrist injury, it is all a far cry from the days when they dominated the women's game.
As is only to be expected Williams continues to talk a good game. "I can definitely win a third title, for sure. My mom and my dad always taught me to think positive. I feel just like a bird, free and really loose."
It was not an image that sprang to mind during her match, unless it was a bird of the flightless variety. As bad as Santangelo was, she still managed to make Williams run and was not the least intimidated by the American's power which, in these days of heavy hitting by the women, no longer seems remarkable.
It is quite possible both the Williams could get back into the top 10 if they managed to stay fit for any length of time, but each new break makes it increasingly difficult. The game is moving on and the sisters are falling behind - not that either would admit it.
New beginnings make even the most confident and experienced of players a little anxious, and the lurch from the off-season into the year's first slam, with preparation necessarily limited, only adds to the anxiety.
"Initially you just try to survive and advance," said Andy Roddick. This the American number six seed did, although when France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a wild card, served for a two-set lead there were clear intimations of the tournament's first major shock.
The tensions were tangible in the opening set, which Tsonga eventually won on the tie-break by 20-18, and Roddick let rip against an umpire whom he referred to as a glorified scorekeeper. Only the Rod Laver Arena here has Hawkeye, so in the Vodafone Arena Roddick was only able to moan about a call, rather than challenge it. "It's a bit frustrating, and the umpire is pretty much the only person I can vent my frustrations on, besides myself," he said.
Roddick's 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory was ultimately relatively easy, principally because the 21-year-old Frenchman could not sustain the power and placement that had had the American struggling in the opening two sets.
The bushfires burning to the north and east of the city left a pall of smoke hanging in the air when play began, and there was combustion within the grounds when the Serbian and Croatian fans clashed. And on this day of smoke and hot air, even Mr Cool Operator, aka Roger Federer, was a touch tetchy. He opened his defence with a 7-5, 6-0, 6-4 win over Bjorn Phau of Germany, although in the first instance the great man's serve was all splutter and cough.
"I think a little adjustment is needed," said Federer.
No doubt it will be made. The world number one has lost one match in his last six slams and revels in his seemingly infinite variety. "If I have to play solidly I don't enjoy it so much, but in the end the result is what counts. I'm not here to play well and lose."
The player under the greatest pressure yesterday was Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, last year's beaten finalist and something of an adopted Aussie, given the vociferous local Greek support he always receives.
Great was his delight when he saw off Germany's Rainer Schuttler, a beaten finalist himself in 2003, because Baghdatis was keenly aware that last year's emotional high might well be followed by a huge let-down.
Guardian Service
