Serena out to defend US reputation

MELBOURNE, Jan 13: Serena Williams has made it her duty to rectify an anomaly at this year's Australian Open.

For the first time ever, the US does not have a seeded player in the women's draw of a grand slam.

''It's all my fault, I guess,'' joked the seven-times major champion who is on a comeback trail after a four-month injury layoff.

''I should have been a little more serious. But it won't happen again, at least as long as I'm playing.

''I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen any more. I take the blame for that.'' The Americans have had a torrid time over the past year. For the first time since the inception of WTA computer rankings in 1975, the US did not have a player inside the world's top 10 in late August.

By the end of the year, there were none in the top 20.

Injuries to players such as Serena and sister Venus, a five-times slam winner, did not help matters.

An expectant Lindsay Davenport effectively called time on her career which garnered three grand slam titles.

This has left Meghann Shaughnessy, at 39th, as the highest ranked American woman in the Melbourne field.

Andy Roddick, who is seeded sixth in the men's draw, refused to get carried away with suggestion that American women's tennis is in decline.

NO REGRETS

''(No American being seeded) would be a lot more relevant if Venus and Serena had played 16 or 17 events and weren't seeded,'' Roddick said after winning the Kooyong Classic. ''If you're going tell me they are not one of the top 32 players in the world, I would have to question that.'' With off-court interests in fashion and interior designing, the Williams sisters have often been accused of not putting there heart and soul into tennis.

Last year, world number 47 Venus played only six events while 81st-ranked Serena managed to appear in just four tournaments.

Venus will not be seen in Australia over the next fortnight as a lingering wrist injury has forced her to stay away.

Despite spending months on the road to recovery herself, Serena was not one to dwell on her hard luck.

''I don't regret anything that's happened to me,'' she said.

''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.

''I wouldn't give that up for anything.'' But Serena did say her absence from the tour had rekindled her love for the game.

''I would be kind of pontificating if I said I think tennis needs me. But I think we work together,'' she said.

''Tennis needs me, I need tennis. I'm happiest playing tennis. I love to be on the court. I love walking out in the crowd. I love the competition. It works both ways.'' REUTERS