It’s hard for Serena Williams not to consider herself the U.S. Open’s defending champion. That honor is held by Justine Henin-Hardenne, who captured the Open crown last September when the Williams sisters withdrew with injuries.
“Theoretically I’m not,” Serena said. “But I kind of am.”
Serena, who won the Open title in 2002, never had the crown knocked off her head by a player. Left-knee surgery to repair a patella tendon tear forced her out of 2003’s Flushing fortnight.
Now Serena’s back, and so is Venus. Despite the left knee still giving her problems, Serena is ready to light up the Open again with an array of flashy new outfits and her trademark power tennis. Serena opens the evening card tonight when she faces Czech Republic’s Sandra Kleinova.
Serena has not won a Slam this year, and has not won one since the 2003 Wimbledon – her fifth major. Russian goddess Maria Sharapova derailed Serena last month in the Wimbledon finals.
“(The year’s) not over yet,” the third-seeded Serena said. “I have a lot to add to my resume this year.”
She also plans to add a little something to an already show-stopping wardrobe. Serena said she has “retired” the racy black “catsuit” worn during the 2002 Open. But that garb may seem tame compared to what lies ahead. “I have a lot of exciting outfits this year,” Serena said.
During Saturday’s Arthur Ashe Kids Day, Serena nearly wore what she termed “this black mesh dress that’s kind of see-through but I decided not to. There were kids here today.”
She hasn’t ruled out wearing it when the real matches begin, if the USTA allows. Serena said she has another “short outfit they wouldn’t let me wear at Wimbledon” because it “wasn’t proper attire.” “I’m wearing it here but it’s all in black,” Serena said.
Wimbledon’s dress code is more strict. Players are forced to wear predominately white. Meanwhile, Serena also plans to unveil a denim jean skirt and denim jacket during the Open that she couldn’t wear at Wimbledon either.
If the Flushing fans are talking about her clothes and not her knee, she’ll be OK. Serena pulled out of the Olympics after her knee swelled up during a WTA event in San Diego. Five doctors, she claims, advised rest and no Athens. Vowing to make it to Flushing, Serena, who last lost at the Open in the 2001 Finals to Venus, returned to practice last week, vowing to make it to Flushing.
“I said, ‘There’s no way I can miss this tournament again,'” Serena said. “I wanted to do everything I could to make sure that I was here.”
The women’s draw is a bear. If Serena wins the Open, it will mean a different champion for each of the four Slams in 2004. The young Russians, Sharapova (Wimbledon) and Anastasia Myskina (French Open) along with Henin-Hardenne (Australian Open) won the first three Slams and each are serious contenders here.
Henin-Hardenne, battling back from a rare viral infection that left her bed-ridden in Belgium all summer, stunned many by winning the Olympic gold in her first tournament back. “I’m healthy,” Henin-Hardenne said. “They gave me the guarantee. I was a little bit surprised the way I came back, physically and with my concentration.”
And then there’s Lindsay Davenport, the tour’s hottest player, who has captured four hardcourt titles this summer in what could well be her final year. “It’s been an amazing summer,” Davenport said. It’s definitely the best position I’ve been in since 1998 to win the Open again.”
Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati and even Amelie Mauresmo are no pushovers. Capriati, still looking to win her first Open, has to face Serena in the quarterfinals, which has occurred multiple times in recent Grand Slams. Now 28, Capriati said, “I don’t feel like my age.”
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Today’s featured matches
Men’s singles
Arthur Ashe Stadium, day
Starts at 11 a.m.
(1) Roger Federer vs. Albert Costa
Armstrong Stadium, day
(3) Carlos Moya vs. Brian Baker
Arthur Ashe Stadium, night
Starts at 7 p.m.
(6) Andre Agassi vs. Robby Ginepri
Women’s singles
Arthur Ashe Stadium, day
Starts at 11 a.m.
(2) Marissa Irvin vs. Amelie Mauresmo
(8) Jennifer Capriati vs. Denisa Chladkova
Arthur Ashe Stadium, night
Starts at 7 p.m.
(3) Serena Williams vs. Sandra Kleinova