Williams sisters aim to win doubles title in Bangalore
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 6:03 am posted by Admin (136 views)BANGALORE, India, March 3 (Reuters) - The Williams sisters, denied an opportunity of meeting in the Bangalore Open singles final by the draw, plan to compensate by winning the doubles title in their first tournament appearance in India.
Venus and Serena have been drawn in the same half of the singles draw where they could meet in the semi-finals.
“We just have to do our best now to make it to the semi-final,” Venus told a news conference on Monday.
“Obviously we are in the doubles, so then we just have to make it to that doubles final. There will be two Williams in that final, that’s the next best plan now.”
The pair, who have been given a wild card in the doubles, open their campaign on Tuesday.
They last competed together in a WTA tour event in Charleston last year but did not meet, while their previous on-court clash came at the 2005 U.S. Open which Venus won before bowing out in the quarter-finals.
“We make our schedules separate,” said Venus. “I didn’t know she’s playing here first. I think she entered earlier. We have different managers.”
The Williams have been given first-round byes in the singles in Serena’s first tournament since the Australian Open in January where she lost to Serbian world number four Jelena Jankovic in the quarter-finals.
She withdrew from tournaments last month to recover from a gum surgery.
“(I am) definitely feeling better and am happy to be able to make it out here,” Serena said. (Reporting by Sanjay Rajan; Editing by John Mehaffey).
Source: sport.guardian.co.uk
