Serena ready for US Open despite long absence

NEW YORK, Aug 26 (Reuters) Twice former champion Serena Williams, out of action since Wimbledon, feels ready to push for her third US Open title next week.

The American said she had recovered from a nagging thumb injury and was excited to launch her campaign with a night match against German Angelique Kerber tomorrow.

''I'm totally fine,'' Williams told reporters yesterday.

''I've been practising so much.

''I'm so excited the U.S. Open is here because I'm pretty much over practising. I'm ready to play matches now.'' Williams's last competitive outing was a quarter-final defeat by world number one Justine Henin at Wimbledon at the start of July.

The American said it was not always necessary to play competitive matches to prepare for a grand slam event.

''It's important to play matches but I also think it's important to have faith in your game,'' said Williams.

''I've been playing for I don't know how long, I should be match ready. That's how I like to think about it.'' The former world number one also lost to Henin in the last eight of the French Open and the pair could meet again in the quarter-finals here.

''It doesn't bother me,'' said Williams, the US Open champion of 1999 and 2002.

''I'm excited. She's one of my favourite opponents because she has a good game and she enjoys the battle.'' Although Serena and her elder sister Venus have had abbreviated schedules, each has won a grand slam this year.

Serena captured the Australian Open title while Venus won Wimbledon.

REUTERS BJR RK0955