Melbourne: Serena Williams begins her quest on Monday to equal Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles battling fitness concerns and with a host of players desperate to dethrone the defending champion.
Following a dominant 2015, the world number one is gunning for a seventh Australian crown as she prepares for a tricky first-round encounter with Italian Camila Giorgi, the highest ranked non-seeded player in the women’s draw.
Her three Grand Slam titles last year in Australia and at Roland Garros and Wimbledon took her within one of Graf’s long-time record of 22 and put her three clear of both Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.
Serena is in a tough half of the draw with Russia’s Sharapova, seeded five, potentially awaiting her in the quarters.
Sharapova, 28, is also lacking match practice after a left forearm problem forced her out of the Brisbane International, but she too said all is now well.
She opens her tournament against Japan’s Nao Hibino, with temperatures forecast to hit a sizzling 37 Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit).
Snapping at the heels of the two veterans are world number two Simona Halep and third ranked Garbine Muguruza, who have also had less than ideal preparations with illness or injury affecting their build-up.
Aggressive baseliner Halep, who won titles in Shenzhen, Dubai and Indian Wells last year, is looking for her first Grand Slam. Muguruza, who had a watershed 2015 and made the Wimbledon final, is also targeting her major breakthrough.
