Australian Open
"All I could think was that I so didn't want to be there, at just that moment. On the court. In Melbourne. Fighting for points I didn't really care about, in a match I didn't really care about. So what did I do? I cried. Right there on court... It started during one of the changeovers, but it continued when I went back out to play, and it was such a low, despairing, desperate moment for me. I don't know how I managed to keep playing, but I kept playing, because that's just what I did."
Williams in her biography, talking about her meltdown on court. [1] Williams did not have any preparation for defending her title at the Australian Open. She faced China's Li Na and won in three sets, dropping the second set in a tiebreak but winning the first and third sets comfortably. In the second round, she defeated Frenchwoman Camille Pin, dropping just four games.
Williams then faced Daniela Hantuchová in the round of 32. She lost the first set, winning only a single game. In the second set, Williams saved three match points in the twelfth game to push it to a tiebreak, but Hantuchová won on her fifth match point. The loss meant that Williams dropped outside of the top 40 for the first time since entering it in 1998. [2]
Early hard courts, clay court and grass season
She then withdrew from tournaments in Tokyo (citing a lack of fitness), [3] Dubai, and the Tier I NASDAQ-100 Open in Key Biscayne (citing a knee injury and lack of fitness). [4]
On April 10, her ranking fell out of the top 100 for the first time since November 16, 1997. Shortly after, she announced that she would miss both the French Open and Wimbledon due to a chronic knee injury. She stated that, on doctor's orders, she would not be able to compete before "the end of the summer." [5]
US Open Series
Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open
Williams returned to competition ranked No. 139 at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. In the first round, she faced world No. 11 Anastasia Myskina and won convincingly, dropping only four games. [6]
She then defeated Bethanie Mattek in the next round, once again losing just four games. In the quarterfinals, Williams faced compatriot Amy Frazier and won in similar fashion, marking the third consecutive match in which she dropped only four games.
In the semifinals, she took on Russian Vera Zvonareva but was defeated in straight sets. [7]
JPMorgan Chase Open
In only her third tournament of the year, Williams competed at the JPMorgan Chase Open. She cruised past her first two opponents, Maria Kirilenko and Ashley Harkleroad, winning both matches in straight sets.
In the third round, she faced Daniela Hantuchová and lost the first set, winning only one game. However, Williams mounted a comeback, winning the next two sets 6–3, 6–3. [8]
In the quarterfinals, Williams faced compatriot Meghann Shaughnessy. The first set went to a tiebreak, which Shaughnessy won, but Williams responded by dominating the next two sets to secure the victory. [9]
Williams then faced Jelena Janković in the semifinals. Janković broke Williams in the tenth game of the first set to claim it. She then took control of the second set by breaking Williams in the fourth game, paving the way for her to advance to the final. [10]
US Open
Williams was unable to enter the US Open as a direct entry but received a wildcard. [11]
Williams began her US Open campaign against Spaniard Lourdes Domínguez Lino and quickly dispatched the world No. 41 in straight sets. [12]
For the third time in four tournaments, Williams faced Daniela Hantuchová. Hantuchová served for the first set in the ninth game, but Williams broke back and won the next three games to take the set. She then secured the second set to advance. [13]
In the third round, Williams faced rising star Ana Ivanovic and cruised to a straight-set victory, becoming the first wildcard entry to reach the round of 16. [14]
In the fourth round, Williams faced top seed Amélie Mauresmo. Mauresmo took the first set with a single break. However, Williams responded by dominating the second set, winning it 6–0. In the final set, Mauresmo broke Williams in the fifth game and won the last three games to secure the victory and advance to the quarterfinals. [15]
United States
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