Serena Williams will seek to extend her legendary status with another stellar run in Melbourne, Australia. A tournament she last won back in 2017 (her sister Venus was the runner-up), Serena would love to lift the Daphne Trophy once more. She skipped the 2018 edition as part of her comeback following pregnancy.
A seven-time titlist at Melbourne Park, Williams has a long-standing affair with this tournament. Back in 1998, she made her Grand Slam debut on this very stage. More than two decades on, she's still relevant in the game with a chance to level Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam titles won.
Serena Williams had no luck with the draw
According to wtatennis.com, Serena Williams features in the top half's quarter of the draw, a quarter which is led by the current world No. 1 Simona Halep. According to ESPN, she was seeded 16th on the women's singles draw. Serena will open her 2019 Australian Open campaign against Tatijana Maria of Germany. Up next, a first tricky opponent could emerge as Eugenie Bouchard seems favorite to take on Williams in what could be a highly entertaining encounter.
The third round may bring Carla Suarez Navarro at the other end of the court, while a first blockbuster may be delivered in the fourth round. Serena Williams is on a collision course with Simona Halep.
Moreover, Venus Williams is on the same trajectory as well.
Moving one step further, the last eight stages may put Karolina Pliskova or Garbine Muguruza on the other side of the net. A two-time Grand Slam champion, Muguruza may want to turn the tide in her favor after a less than convincing past season. Pliskova also did well at Melbourne in the past.
She reached the quarterfinals at the last two editions.
Should she survives all these potential early blockbuster, Serena may hope for going all the way to the finish line at Melbourne Park.
Grand Slams tend to be her favorite playgrounds
After a slow start in the first part of 2018, Serena Williams really stepped out her game during the second part.
As a result, she was able to make back-to-back Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and at the US Open respectively.
The early stages of 2019 saw Serena having some early tests as she decided to play at the Hopman Cup. She was at the center of a historic encounter against Roger Federer in a mixed-doubles match.
A Grand Slam Tennis tournament is the ultimate test as players have to keep their best focus and stamina for an entire fortnight. Winning it requires a complete set of skills, inspiration during the points, nerves of steel and, of course, a bit of luck.
