Serena Takes a Leaf Out of Ivanisevic Fairytale

Serena Williams took a leaf out of Goran Ivanisevic's fairytale and created her own entry in the annals of the Australian Open on Saturday.

Croatian Ivanisevic turned out to be the poster-boy of all dreamers in the sport when he won the ultimate prize in grasscourt tennis while ranked 125th in the world.

Williams revived memories of Ivanisevic's miraculous run to the 2001 Wimbledon title this past fortnight in Melbourne, though if she had lived up to her ranking she would have been back home in Florida after the first round.

Instead the world number 81 announced her comeback to top flight tennis in the only manner she knows how, to defy the odds and bludgeon her way to an eighth grand slam title.

"We all know I'm not really 81," the American told a small group of invited journalists following her 6-1 6-2 rout of top seed Maria Sharapova.

"It's exciting for women's tennis but I think it's exciting that it's Serena Williams and not just anyone else.

"Because I've been number one before and I've won seven grand slams before today. Today it's eight. It makes a difference, definitely.

reuters