Forget suggesting Serena Williams takes a celebratory plunge into the Brisbane River if she claims her 40th tour title in the Queensland capital this weekend.
She has no qualms about showing off a taut set of abs in a swimsuit, as shown over Christmas.
It’s just someone told her about the bull sharks.
“I love the water, except there could possibly be tiger sharks in it … or bull sharks?” the 13-time Grand Slam champion surmised from the Kangaroo Point cliffs overlooking the river yesterday.
Williams begins her Brisbane International campaign at Pat Rafter Arena today against South African Chanelle Scheepers and with swimming in the river out of the question she also ruled out suggesting she tone down her on-court emotions.
The fourth seed made it clear Brisbane crowds could expect the same fire and passion, which boiled over in last year’s US Open final against Sam Stosur.
“Right on. I’m just always going to be me. If it means I’m giving 200 per cent then that’s how I am,” Williams said.
“I love that and I think people can respect that when you see me play I’m going to give it [my] all every time.”
It was during that final Williams launched a tirade at chair umpire Eva Asderaki after being penalised a point.
“I honestly think I was toned down,” a relaxed Williams said yesterday.
“I didn’t use any bad language or anything so I wouldn’t change it so much. I’m an emotional player and I’m an extremely emotional person, oh my goodness!”
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Williams welcomed the upgrade of the Brisbane tournament to a Premier event, as it provided another solid option to gain matchplay against even more of the world’s best players ahead of the Australian Open.
“I’ve never been here so my goal this year is to kind of go places that I’ve never been,” she said.
“It gets kind of redundant going to Melbourne every year, Sydney every year.
“Usually there’s just Sydney you have to play and it’s so close to the Australian Open so it’s good for this to be a top event to have another week off before [the] Australian Open.”
She side-stepped having to nominate her biggest threats over the Australian summer and would not even be drawn on who she would rather meet in a Brisbane semifinal – Kim Clijsters or Sam Stosur.
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“They’re both great opponents,” she said, focusing instead on the tour’s rising talents.
“There are so many names I just don’t recognise.
“They’re young and they come out just blasting the ball. It’s definitely scary.”