By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Serena Williams was trailing Jarmila Wolfe, 7-5, 2-1, when she retired from her Hopman Cup match citing knee inflammation.
Photo credit: Hopman Cup
Serena Williams' 2016 debut lasted little more than a set.
The world No. 1 was trailing Australia's Jarmila Wolfe, 7-5, 2-1, when she hobbled out of her Hopman Cup match citing inflammation in her left knee.
Serena said she trained hard during December and suggested the knee issue could be a result of the pounding her body absorbed during a draining 2015 season when she won three of the four Grand Slam titles to complete her second Serena Slam.
"I just have some inflammation that’s been going away very slowly. It's still there; it’s going away but it needs a little more time," Williams told the media in Perth. "Maybe a day off or two will really make the world of difference."
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Williams believes she will regain her health for the Australian Open, which starts on January 18th.
"Speed is my strength so I definitely think I will be able to get it right for Australia," Williams said. "I only think positive and I know I’ll be okay."
Williams withdrew from her Hopman Cup opener against Elina Svitolina on Monday. Vicky Duval replaced the 21-time Grand Slam champion on Team USA at the mixed team exhibition event in the Perth Arena.
The six-time Australian Open champion said she's focusing on regaining confidence in her movement.
"Usually I’m super-fast and wasn’t moving the way I like to move," Williams said. "Mainly I was afraid to move and I need to get in the space where I’m not afraid to move."
Since her stunning upset loss to Roberta Vinci in the 2015 US Open semifinals, Williams has not completed a Tour-level match. She played select IPTL matches during the offseason.
The reigning Australian Open champion downplayed the severity of her knee issue in her post-match press conference.
"It’s not even a bump—just a really minor thing in the road and I’ll fly over it,” said Williams, whose status for the USA's tie against the Czech Republic on Thursday is uncertain. "I’ll see how I feel tomorrow and literally take it a day at a time. I came all this way to compete and do what I do best and be where I want to be the most, which is on a tennis court."
Williams' coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, said she was bothered by knee tendinitis last season.
The 34-year-old Williams said she feels the inflammation is diminishing.
Lleyton Hewitt defeated Jack Sock, 7-5, 6-4. Hewitt and Wolfe defeated Sock and Duval to complete Australia Gold's 3-0 sweep of the Americans.