Serena Williams believes this week’s Rome Masters will provide her with her truest test on clay ahead of the French Open.
The world number one saw her unbeaten run in 2015 come to an end last week in Madrid when she was knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual champion Petra Kvitova.
However, despite the disappointment, she remained upbeat about her game and arrives in Rome looking to claim her fourth title at the Foro Italico, having previously won in 2002, 2013 and 2014.
With the French Open starting later this month, Williams is understandably keen to hone her game on the red dirt. The 33-year-old opens her campaign on Tuesday evening with a second round clash against Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and has admitted she always feels like the event in Rome gives her the best preparation for Roland Garros.
The world number one told reporters: “To be here in Rome is good, I feel like Rome is true clay-court tennis and it’s a little bit slower than Madrid and it’s a little bit more intense.”So I’m kind of interested to see how I’ll fare here.”
