Chris Evert says world No 1 Serena Williams must stop putting herself in “dangerous positions” at the start of matches if she is to emulate last season’s dominance which saw her win three of the year’s four Grand Slams.
Advertisement
Williams withdrew from the Hopman Cup earlier this month with a knee injury but is expected to be fit as she bids to equal Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 grand slam titles.
Nick Kyrgios will be seeded No 29 in the men’s draw, while in the women’s draw two-time former Grand Slam champion Samantha Stosur is the No 25 seed.
Djokovic managed to avoid his Australian Open nemesis Andy Murray on his side of the draw, as well as 2014 victor Stan Wawrinka and 2009 champion Rafael Nadal.
Romania’s Simona Halep, who is still chasing a first major crown, is seeded second ahead of Spain’s 2015 Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza who is placed third. “I’m ready”, Williams said on Friday.
Despite winning three of four Grand Slams in 2015 and completing the “Serena Slam” at Wimbledon with her fourth consecutive major title, Williams’ semifinal loss against Roberta Vinci at the US Open was shocking to all involved and spoiled Williams’ run to a calendar Slam. I’m feeling really good and I’m excited about it.
However, this year Murray has other distractions – the world No. 2 said he would fly home if his wife Kim Sears gives birth during the tournament (she is due with their first child the second week of February). “Maybe it’s great to have all these tournaments but at the end of the day, if you don’t have enough players playing, you got a problem”, she said at the WTA Finals.
Hoeksma commented: “Only after arriving at the Australian Open site for my seventh Australian Open I realised once again how privileged I am to be part of this incredible event”.
The tournament will begin Monday morning in Australia.
The 28-year-old, who missed the U.S Open last year because of a leg injury, was among a quartet of top players who were a doubt for Melbourne because of nagging ailments. “And when I do”, she said, “I will focus and focus and focus so I can continue my journey in this attractive game”.
“You know, it’s different for us but I won the gold in London four years ago, so to try and defend that is another big goal for me”.
Standing at the entrance of Margaret Court Arena at Melbourne Park in cool and breezy weather that is rather uncharacteristic for an Australian summer, Djokovic and Williams were back on familiar ground as title holders of a grand slam.
Advertisement
Venus, who is on course to face Halep in the quarter-finals, despite winning three titles past year and ending inside the top-10 for the first time since 2010, has also only advanced to the last eight in Melbourne three times since 2003.
