World No.1 Serena Williams was forced to cut short her first match of the season, retiring down a set at the U.S. Hopman Cup match against Australia.
Serena Williams’ first match of 2016 came to an abrupt end in Hopman Cup; down 7-5, 2-1 to Australia’s Jarmila Wolfe, Williams withdrew citing persistent knee inflammation – the same pain that took her out of the United States’ first match against the Ukraine.
“I have some knee inflammation that’s going away very slowly,” she said after the match. “It’s going away, but just needs a little more time. A little rest, a little treatment.”
“I’ve been training really hard during the off-season and really pushing myself beyond the limits; I just think a day off or two will make a world of difference.”
The World No.1’s knees were a large part behind her decision to end her season after last year’s US Open, but remains optimistic about her chances to defend her title in Melbourne and win a seventh Australian Open championship.
“Speed is my strength so I definitely think I will be able to get it right for Australia. I only need to think positive and I know I’ll be okay.”
The United States, which substituted Vicky Duval in for Williams, went on to lose 3-0 to Australia, with Wolfe and Lleyton Hewitt defeating Duval and Jack Sock, 7-6(4), 6-1.
