Tennis: Top-form Serena out of love with tennis

Serena Williams of the US reacts yesterday during her first round match against Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa at the Brisbane International tennis tournament

Serena Williams says she has fallen out of love with tennis despite recording an impressive comeback win over Chanelle Scheepers in the first round of the Brisbane International yesterday.
Playing her first match since losing the US Open final to Samantha Stosur in August, Williams showed why she is the most feared player in the draw as she outgunned Scheepers 6-2, 6-3.
Having missed the last four months of 2011, Williams struggled at times with her first serve but still had too much firepower for the South African, sending down seven aces in the 68-minute victory.
The 30-year-old revealed later she was cutting her schedule back in 2012. “I just want to be able to do other things that I’m doing and expand on that. I think that helps keep my motivation up,” she said.
Winner of 13 Grand Slam singles titles, she admitted she took the latter part of 2011 off because she was tired and said she did not love the sport any more – if she ever had.
“I don’t love tennis today but I’m here,” she said.
“I can’t live without it – there’s a difference between not loving something and not being able to live without it.
“I’ve actually never liked sports and I never understood how I became an athlete.
Australia’s Stosur, the tournament top seed, demolished a gallant Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus 6-2, 6-3 and remains on track for a possible semi-final clash against Williams.
Playing her first match in Australia since winning the US Open, Stosur wasted no time reaching the second round to the delight of her home fans in a packed Pat Rafter Arena.
Second seed Andrea Petkovic of Germany the runner-up in 2011,overcame a second set collapse to defeat Israeli Shahar Peer 7-6 (7/2), 1-6, 6-3.
Former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic breezed into the second round with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Austrian Tamira Paszek, wrapping up in 79 minutes
Ivanovic next plays Belgium’s Kim Clijsters in a mouthwatering second round clash.

Gilles Simon of France hits a backhand return during his first round match yesterday against Ryan Sweeting of the US

Fellow countrywoman Jelena Jankovic joined Ivanovic in the second round with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro.
Russia’s eighth seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also progressed when Slovenia’s Polona Hercog withdrew with Pavlyuchenkova leading 6-1, 4-1.
In other matches, Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva thrashed Russian qualifier Vera Dushevina 6-0, 6-0, the Czech Republic’s Barbora Zahlavova Strycova saw off Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 and American qualifier Vania King upset Hungary’s Melinda Czink 6-3, 6-4.
Frenchman Simon cruises through
Second seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon cruised into the second round of the Brisbane International with a comfortable straight sets win over American Ryan Sweeting yesterday.
Despite losing his first service game, the world number 12 was never in any trouble as he moved to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the big-serving Sweeting.
Simon said his goal this year was to return to the top 10 for the first time since 2009, when he reached number six before suffering a knee injury.
Earlier, rising Australian star Bernard Tomic showed how far he has progressed in the last 12 months when he beat experienced Frenchman Julien Benneteau in three sets.
He started brilliantly against Benneteau, racing to a 5-0 lead in the first set before the Frenchman began a stirring comeback, winning the second and pushing the 19-year-old Tomic right to the wire in the third, only to hand the Australian the match with a double fault.
Fourth seed Florian Mayer of Germany bowed out after he withdrew with a groin injury against Ukraine’s Denis Istomin while trailing 6-7 (5/7), 3-2, while Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller downed Ricardo Mello of Brazil 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.