Brisbane Day 3: Serena Ankle Deep in Injury Fears by Matt Cronin

Written by: Staff on 31st December 2013

Brisbane International tennis tournament

Brisbane Day 3: Serena Ankle Deep in Injury Fears by Matt Cronin

epa04004259 Serena Williams of USA prepares to serve during her second round match against Andrea Petkovic of Germany at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, 31 December 2013. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY |

After her scrappy and somewhat scratchy 6-4, 6-4 victory over Andrea Petkovic in her opening match of her 2014 campaign at the Brisbane International on Tuesday, Serena Williams has won 91 of her last 95 matches dating back to loss to Angelique Kerber at 2012 Cincinnati. In that stretch, she has been more dominant than two great males, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Clearly, she does not have a rival as good as those two do when considering how evenly matched the Spaniard and Serb are. But while the ATP’s Big 4 (which also includes Andy Murray and Roger Federer is certainly more impressive and more accomplished than the WTA ‘s other top 3 players are, the women’s tour has far more depth, and it’s not like Williams can cruise to victory when she has to face top drawer competitors with hefty resumes like Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka own. Both are in the Brisbane field, as are players like Petkovic, a former top 10 player who when in good health is very fast, has hard and deep groundies and a bullet return.

But returning serve against the woman who clearly owns the hardest and most accurate serve of all time? That’s a big ask, especially in the clutch. Petkovic hung with her from the baseline at times, but Williams showed more variety there, whipping short angled groundstrokes to pull the German off the court and then powering balls down the line. Williams later said that this was the type of match at she wanted: a stern test a again a very good player when she knew she would have to play at a high level from the first ball. So she was quite satisfied with the win.

“It was an intense match, which was really good,” the 32-year-old said.

In the past two years in Australia, Williams has suffered ankle injuries that dashed her dream of winning a sixth Aussie Open crown. In 2012 she twisted her ankle in Brisbane and couldn’t move in an upset at the hands of Ekaterina Makarova in Melbourne. Last year, she ended Brisbane healthy and with a title but then hurt her ankle at the Australian Open and eventually went down to Sloane Stephens.

So on Tuesday afternoon on Pat Rafter Arena, Williams had her ankle strapped high and tight. She admitted that the potential of another injury is in her head.

“I put extra wraps on them today,” she said. “ I told my physio, Let’s do some extra ones. I don’t want anything to happen. Please. I think it is [mental;]. But at the same time, definitely wasn’t mental when I took those falls and my ankle was like this big. I just don’t want that anymore.”

Serena will face Dominika Cibulkova in the next round, who when asked whether she had a shot at upsetting Williams, admitted that the American is the class of the tour, but did mention “she’s human, so anything is possible.” Cibulkova survived the 43-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm in the first round in match where she has to play patiently at times and not over cook her shots, which is exactly what the Japanese legend wanted out of the sometimes overanxious Slovak.

That Date can still retrieve like a demons past the age of 40 against top flight WTA competition is a near miracle. Perhaps in 2024, Serena will be doing much the same. Or not.

“In the locker room I passed [Date] and I thought, She’s so awesome really to be out here at her age and to be so ‑‑ she’s way more fit than I am,” Serena said. “I mean, she’s probably the most fit female on tour. It’s really inspiring. It’s super inspiring. [But playing into my 40s], I really hope not. I pray that I’m not playing. We’ll see.”

Injury of the Day

Australian teen Nick Kyrgios was forced to withdraw from with a right shoulder injury.  One of the country’s top prospects struggled with injuries during the fall and was also unable to play the Aussie Open wild card playoff.

Kyrgios said that the long-term prognosis is “really positive and this is just going to be a minor setback.” His coach, Simon Rea, added: “The priority over the next month is to get fit for the Australian Open, but the even bigger priority is Nick’s wellbeing. The medical team is confident the injury will settle, so playing in Sydney isn’t out of the question.” Hmmm

Quote of the Day

Serena as to what her fondest memory of New Year’s Eve was: “I don’t celebrate New Year’s Eve, so usually I’m in bed at midnight. I plead the fifth,” she said with a laugh. “Really, honestly, it’s so dangerous. I’m not going to answer that question.”

Development of the Day

Roger Federer took the court for the first time this season playing doubles with France’s Nicolas Mahut and was armed with a new 98-inch Wilson frame that he’s said he’s pleased with, but it’s blacked out and no model has been identified yet.

What to Watch for on Wednesday (New Year’s Day Down Under)

Three Aussie hopefuls face stiff tests when 17-year-old Ashleigh Barty has to confront Maria Sharapova, Casey Dellacqua has to play Victoria Azarenka and Marinko Matosevic has to face Sam Querrey.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andrea Petkovic, Andy Murray, Angelique Kerber, Atp, Australian Open, Brisbane International, Dominika Cibulkova, Ekaterina Makarova, Maria Sharapova, Nick Kyrgios, Nicolas Mahut, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sam Querrey, Serena Williams, Sloan Stephens, Tennis, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka, Wta