After time off, Serena Williams hungry for Australian Open title
NEW YORK — In the end, Serena Williams’ 2015 season didn’t conclude with a loss, it concluded with the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year award.
With her quest for a historic calendar Grand Slam stopped in this city more than three months ago, Williams marched to the podium at Pier 60 on Tuesday night to accept the award, becoming the first tennis player to win it since Arthur Ashe in 1992.
“She’s one of few women to win this,” her sister, Isha Price, told Paste BN Sports. “This is a wonderful honor and she absolutely deserves it.”
Williams, 34, was in high spirits. Her family accompanied her down the red carpet, with Venus Williams introducing her at the banquet. Serena Williams wore a backless, floor-length black dress and sported a new ‘do: A short, tight haircut.
Williams shut down her season after her stunning loss to 43rd-ranked Roberta Vinci in the semifinals of the U.S. Open. Two matches shy of the first Grand Slam in tennis since Steffi Graf won all four major title in 1988, Williams took much of the fall to herself, rehabbing nagging knee and elbow injuries.
“I took a lot of time off ... I ate a lot,” Williams laughed. “I’m working off a lot of that food now. I’m 34, so my (injuries) aren’t perfect. I’m good though. Every day I’m sore in a new place, which is never fun.”
What is fun for Williams is winning. She was 53-3 in 2015, winning five titles overall, including the first three legs of the Grand Slam: the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon.
Her march was stopped short by an unlikely foe in Vinci, and that loss has made her even more hungry, Price said.
“She gets up for every Grand Slam,” said Price, noting that 2016 is an Olympic year, as well. “There really isn’t a tournament that she doesn’t want to win. I think she’s just as hungry now as she’s ever been.”
Williams knows 2016 is looming ... as is the expectation for her to win. “I’m always the favorite, whether I’ve played once a week or the entire year,” Williams told Paste BN Sports. “I’m just going to have fun and enjoy myself. I want to do well in Australia more than anyone else. I’m going to do the best that I can.”
Williams is the first woman to be recognized with the honor as an individual since Mary Decker in 1983. Sports Illustrated changed the distinction from sportsman or woman this year to sportsperson.
“Serena had a great year,” said golf great Jack Nicklaus, whose grass court in Florida served as a warm-up site for Venus and Serena this year. “I don’t think I missed a match she played at the majors all year. She had a lot of people coming at her.”
