AUSTRALIAN OPEN ’20: A look at Serena, other things to know

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — It’s been three years since Serena Williams won a Grand Slam championship. Her drought without a title of any sort just ended, though, right before start of Australian Open.

Williams got back on board a week ago at hard-court event in Auckland, New Zealand, and her reaction upon clinching victory -- he back, mouth open, arms held aloft -- indicated just how much it meant to someone who alrey owned 72 singles trophies, including a professional-era record 23 from majors.

“You could see,” Williams said, “ relief on my face.”

It felt like a significant development with main-draw play at year’s first major tournament beginning Monday (Sunday EST) at Melbourne Park. Williams, who is seeded eighth, is scheduled to face Anastasia Potapova of Russia in day’s second match in Rod Laver Arena, after defending champion Naomi Osaka takes on Marie Bouzkova of Czech Republic, and before Roger Federer meets Steve Johnson of U.S.

38-year-old Williams h lost her previous five finals, including four at Slams -- at Wimbledon and U.S. Open in 2018 and 2019. Maybe getting all way to finish line in Auckland will put her more at ease next time she plays with a trophy at stake.

In dition to her first title of any sort since setting a professional-era record with her 23rd major at 2017 Australian Open -- one more would equal Margaret Court for most in tennis history -- it was also Williams’ first since becoming a mor later that year.

And it me her first woman in professional era with at least one title in four deces: 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

A year ago in Australia, Williams held match points in quarterfinals against Karolina Pliskova before twisting her ankle and eventually losing.

“She’s going to be, always, tough,” second-seeded Pliskova said, “ matter which ranking she is, matter, I think, which she is.”

Here are or things to kw about Australian Open, year’s first Grand Slam tournament:

AIR QUALITY

high heat of Australian summer is always a factor in Melbourne, but this time more attention will be paid to air quality because of wildfires that have been burning in eastern parts of country, including about 100 miles away. Smoke that reached tournament site affected some players during qualifying last week, but has been dissipating. Rain in forecast at start of main draw could help furr,

BIG THREE

Top-ranked Rafael Nal, defending champion vak Djokovic and Roger Federer have won 55 of past 66 Grand Slam titles, including 12 in a row and 14 of most recent 16 in Australia. If Nal, last year’s runner-up, wins his second Australian Open trophy ( or came in 2009), he would match Federer’s men’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic sits third with 16.

YOUNG RUSSIANS

Eventually, Big Three’s grip on tennis will subside. And eventually, some younger player will assert himself. Tennis’ great guessing game right w is when those things will happen — and who’ll be first of kids to win a Grand Slam title. Right w, re is a trio of young Russians pushing ir way into conversation: . 4 seed Daniil Medvedev, who is 23 years old; . 16 Karen Khachav, also 23; and . 17 Andrey Rublev, 22. Medvedev pushed Nal to five sets in last year’s U.S. Open final; Khachav was a 2019 French Open quarterfinalist; Rublev’s trophies this month at Doha and elaide me him first man since 2004 with two tour-level titles before Australian Open.

OSAKA’S DEFENSE

Naomi Osaka’s first Grand Slam title defense ended with a fourth-round loss at U.S. Open. w comes her second such effort and this one will come with a new coach at her side — and her fourth in past year — Wim Fissette, who has worked with players such as Kim Clijsters and Angelique Kerber in past. “She learns a lot from mistakes, and it’s rmal at her to make some mistakes,” Fissette said about 22-year-old Osaka. “But she is a very quick learner with everything she does. She has her eyes open and her ears open. ... From what she told me, I believe she learned a lot from that experience at U.S. Open.”

WOZNIACKI’S EXIT

Caroline Wozniacki is playing what she says will be final tournament of a career that includes 2018 Australian Open title and time at . 1 in WTA rankings. She’s 29. “I’m sure once last ball is hit,” she said, “it’s going to be a bit emotional.”

YOU SAY HELLO, I SAY GOODBYE

Australian Open doubles competition will see some table comings and goings. Bob and Mike Bryan, 41-year-old American twins who own a record 16 Grand Slam championships in men’s doubles, are competing in Melbourne for final time; y’ve anunced 2020 is ir last year on tour. And Sania Mirza, a 33-year-old from India with a total of six major titles in women’s or mixed doubles, is back in Grand Slam action for first time in two years after having a baby.

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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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