Serena Williams has attempted to quash rumours that sister Venus told Australian Open organisers she would quit the tournament if her round four match with Sania Mirza was not played on Rod Laver Arena last night.
With Roger Federer’s five set thriller with Janko Tipsarevic pushing the night session two hours, officials have admitted they gave Venus and Mirza the choice of playing on Vodafone Arena or coming back the next day. The girls rejected the offer, causing the Lleyton Hewitt/Marcos Baghdatis match – which turned into a 4:45 epic – to be delayed until 11:47pm, the latest start to a match in Australian Open history.
As tournament director Craig Tiley continues to come under fire for ceding to Williams and Mirza, rumours swept Melbourne Park than an angry Venus threatened to get on the first plane back to America if her match was rescheduled.
“I’m 100 percent sure, and as I was there when the conversation was happening, that Venus never threatened to leave the tournament,” Serena said after her routine straight sets win over 12th seed Czech Nicole Vaidisova.
“There was no threat. I don’t know where these stories come from. I find them quite hilarious. Yeah, I’m always looking for the next headline: ‘Venus Threatens to Leave the Tournament.’
“Honestly, it’s so funny.”
Serena may have been part of the conversation in question, but she didn’t see any of big sister’s win.
“I was in bed when Venus went out on the court.”
The eight-time champion has no problems with late night matches, acknowledging they’re a part of grand slam life.
“Sometimes you have really late nights. You always have to roll with the punches, and not everything’s going to be perfect. If it was, then I would be in Hawaii right now, with a glass of lemonade looking at my $20 million home.”
The controversy overshadowed Serena’s press conference, although the win over Vaidisova didn’t exactly inspire. Especially the younger Williams.
“I felt like I didn’t have a lot of rhythm out there. I felt like lazy, like I wasn’t moving the way I wanted to.
“It’s definitely interesting playing her. She’s so unpredictable. I think that’s really a good thing.”
Serena will play 3rd seed Jelena Jankovic in the quarters, with an all-Williams final still on the cards.
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