Australian Open: Serena Williams cartwheels into favouritism

On a deserted court in New Zealand late on Sunday, Serena Williams was doing cartwheels.

Serena Williams celebrates with daughter Alexis Olympia after winning the Auckland Open on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

On a deserted court in New Zealand late on Sunday, Serena ­Williams was doing cartwheels.

The crowds were long departed when the winner of the Auckland Open returned to centre court.

Hours earlier, the 38-year-old had accepted the winning trophy with her daughter Alexis Olympia in her arms.

The 23-time major winner then returned to the court for the doubles final with her great friend Caroline Wozniacki. They lost the decider but for Wozniacki, who will retire after the Australian Open, having the opportunity to play alongside the great was a highlight.

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Williams also had much to cele­brate. It was her first title of any sort in three years. It also meant she had claimed a WTA Tour event in four different decades, which is an astonishing testament to her enduring greatness.

Why not do a cartwheel or two? Imagine the celebration if she goes all the way in the Australian Open that begins with qualifying on Tuesday and main draw action next week?

Williams arrived in Melbourne on Monday to continue a quest that has driven the American legend since her return to the tour a couple of years ago.

A 24th grand slam title would see her draw level with Margaret Court as the most successful grand slam singles player.

The past two years have provided contrasting evidence as to her ability to equal and then pass the Australian.

In her late 30s, Williams has managed to reach four grand slam finals, two apiece at Wimbledon and the US Open. But on each ­occasion she has been convincingly beaten.

Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep had the better of her at Wimbledon, while Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu proved ­superior in New York.

Andreescu, at least, will not be in Melbourne, with the Canadian withdrawing due to injury.

But the other women who beat Williams in those finals will be at Melbourne Park, along with other leading Australian Open contenders including Ash Barty, the world No 1, and Karolina Pliskova, who performed superbly in Brisbane en route to winning her third title there in four years.

The strong early-season form of Williams has convinced bookmakers to install her as the favourite to take the crown. The seven-time Australian Open champion is listed as $5 favourite by the TAB ahead of Osaka and Barty at $8, with Halep rated as a $10 chance.

And some key contenders are convinced she is capable of claiming another grand slam title despite being closer to 40 than 20.

Pliskova, who is priced at $11 for the Australian Open, edged the legend in Melbourne last year and has assessed Williams’s early-season form from afar.

“I think she had a couple of chances already in the last two years. She was always quite close,” Pliskova said.

“She did some work in the off-season, too, so she’s quite strong and she looks quite pumped.

“She was playing doubles, too, so I think she’s going to be always tough, no matter which ranking she is, no matter what age she is.

“(I’m) always looking forward to play her, so no matter if she’s going to be in my part of the draw, it’s going to be a challenge.”

Former US Open finalist Madison Keys, who was beaten by Pliskova in the Brisbane decider, said there was not a woman on tour who thought another grand slam singles title was beyond Williams.

“She has been in multiple finals. I don’t think anyone is thinking that she can’t,” Keys said.

Williams claimed her first grand slam title in New York in 1999 and is considered the favourite to add another in Melbourne in 2020, which astonishes Keys.

“I think it’s truly incredible that she’s still at the top of the game so many years later,” she said. “I have gotten to play her a few times and been on the losing end every time. She’s just so good.

“She has everything and when you’re playing her and you feel like you’re playing some of your best tennis, she just has another level.

“And the ability to do that year after year after year is incredible.”

Barbora Strycova, the world’s No 1 doubles player and a Wimbledon semi-finalist last season, is also astonished by Williams’s sustained success.

“It’s unbelievable that she can still play at the highest level and she’s still competing to win the grand slams,” the Czech said.