March 21, 2004
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She's Back! Serena Returns to Action
MIAMI - It's been more than eight months since Serena Williams saw action in a professional tennis match, but the wait will be over shortly. The former World No.1 will return to action this week at the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami - ending her long stint away from the game.
Williams last played at Wimbledon in July, where she successfully defended her title by defeating sister Venus in the final. Several weeks later she underwent an operation to repair a partial tear in her left knee that forced her to miss the remainder of the season.
Now that only a few days remain before Williams makes her return, the winner of the last two Miami titles is eagerly awaiting her first opportunity back on court.
"All day long I think about it," Williams said. "I’m really excited to get out there and play.I’m more excited than everyone else. As excited as everyone else is, I’m ten times more excited."
Before the injury, Williams was clearly the most dominate player on the circuit. Beginning with her title at Roland Garros back in 2002, Williams won four straight Grand Slam titles - a streak that came to an end in Paris last year where she lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the semifinals. She went on to win Wimbledon several weeks later and finish the year with a 38-3 record and four titles.
One of those titles came at the NASDAQ-100 Open, where she won the title for the second straight year, defeating Jennifer Capriati in the final. Williams also defeated Capriati in the 2002 championship match and Venus handed Capriati a loss in the 2001 final.
Her return to tennis also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the NASDAQ-100 Open. The previous 19 tournaments have been won by nine players - all but one who were or went on to hold the World No.1. If Williams goes on to win a third title at the event, she will join sister Venus and Steffi Graf as the only three-time winners of the event.
While recovering from the surgery, Williams spent time working on some of her fashion designs and acting in several different roles. The stint away from tennis was the longest Williams had been away from the sport since she was very young, but didn't take away her passion from the sport.
"When I first got off and took a break, it was like a relief almost," Williams said. "I was like,'Wow, I never had this much time off. I can wake up when I want. I don’t have to think about going to the courts.' But after awhile that gets old. I did enjoy doing a lot of stuff like acting and my fashion but at the end of the day my true love has been and will always be tennis. I’m just so desperate to be on the court."
The hardwork of getting back into match shape began for Williams in November, but doctors told the former No.1 to not rush things in order to not have another setback with her knee.
"I’ve been on the court for awhile, but it’s just that some doctors were saying that I probably shouldn’t risk it to go to Australia because it was a tough surface also because it’s a little sticky," Williams said. "I got like four different opinions because I’m crazy about getting different opinions from different doctors. And they all said the same thing. So at the end of the day, I had to make a grown-up decision and not an immature decision and other than that I feel pretty good."
For the last few weeks, Williams said she has been on the court everyday making prepartions for her comeback, doing everything possible to see a return to the top of the tennis world.
"It definitely takes a lot (to get) back to the top," Williams said. "I think I’m definitely willing to put in the time and put in everything that I need to and I really, really am excited about getting back. It’s hard, it’s hard when you’re off for so long to put in the time but I feel that I’m at that point that I am definitely ready and able and willing."
