Welcome to Melbourne Memories, where wtatennis.com will take a look back at some of the most noteworthy narratives from the Australian Open over the past 25 years.
Next up: Serena Williams charged back from injuries and a ranking drop to end a two-year titleless streak by gritting through the 2007 edition.
Serena Williams came into the 2007 Australian Open determined, if nothing else, to show off the resolve that had already won her seven Grand Slam titles.
“What do I expect?” Williams responded to media during the pre-tournament press conferences.
“I just expect to go out there and most of all have fun. Mostly the things I’m expecting to do are based on just technical things. I think if I do that well, then I’ll be fine.”
After an extraordinary fortnight, she exceeded that goal, demonstrating her champion’s reserve, which would power her through the rest of her glittering career and hoisting a Grand Slam trophy once more.
It had been two years since Williams had triumphed at the 2005 Australian Open, and the American had not won a title of any shape or size since.
Ankle and knee injuries hindered her play during the rest of 2005 and the following season; in 2006, Williams contested only four tournaments and at one point saw her ranking fall out of the Top 100.
Ranked World No.81 and coming off of a loss to Sybille Bammer at the Hobart International before her trip to Melbourne, Williams had been out of the winner’s circle for some time.
“When I did get injured and I did get surgery, I did things I would have never been able to do, i.e. spend time with my family, spend time with my sisters,” Williams said. “I wouldn’t give that up for anything.
“I welcome the challenge of being where I am. Right now, I just think mentally I’m in a different place.”
As Williams would soon prove, mentally she was as much of a title favorite as anyone. The wins just had to follow.
Williams opened the fortnight with a quick victory over No.27 seed Mara Santangelo, then followed that up with another straight-set win over qualifier Anne Kremer.
In the third round, though, things got tricky with a battle against No.5 seed Nadia Petrova.
The Russian powered her way to a 6-1, 5-3 lead in the affair. “I really had no other option than for my game to go up,” said Williams, after the grueling match.
“I was down 3-5 and on the verge of being out of the tournament, and I obviously didn’t want that to happen.
“I told myself just to stay in there and do what I had been practicing and it’ll come together sooner or later.”
