Resting Serena sets sights on 2006 return

LONDON—Serena Williams will focus on grand slam glory next year after bringing an injury-plagued 2005 season to a close ahead of time.
The American, who pulled out of her final two scheduled tournaments for 2005 last week, has set her sights on a return to the very top and will play no more competitive tennis until January.
Her next tournament is expected to be the defense of her Australian Open crown in Melbourne.
Serena rejected an offer to play for the United States at the season-opening Hopman Cup in Perth, event director Paul McNamee said on Tuesday.
Having managed just 28 matches this season due to ankle and knee injuries, the 24-year-old is pinning her hopes on a fit and healthy return.
“I’m going to be busy these next several weeks rehabbing, training and getting healthy so that I can play my very best for myself, the fans, tournaments and sponsors in 2006,” Serena said.
“I tried my best to fight through my injuries during the season, but I now realize that I need to take some time off to rest my body and get back to being 100 percent healthy.
“I look forward to regaining my form and playing at the same highly competitive level that I have in the past”.
Serena started the year by winning the Australian Open for her seventh grand slam title but she missed the French Open, was embarrassed in the third round of Wimbledon by Jill Craybas and lost to elder sister Venus in the fourth round of the US Open.
Her only match since then was a loss to China’s Sun Tiantian in her opening match at the Beijing Open last month.
“This has been such a disappointing year for me because I’m such a competitive person and I like to win for myself and for my fans,” Serena told her website.—Agencies