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Williams dynasty not declining: Serena
Serena Williams lashed out at suggestions that the two sisters were in the decline after romping into the Australian Open semi-finals.
Serena Williams angrily hit out at suggestions that the most famous sister act in tennis was in decline after romping into the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday.
The former world number one produced her best performance of the tournament to blitz second seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-2, 6-2 and restore some family pride after elder sister Venus was knocked out by Australian Alicia Molik on Monday.
Afterwards, Williams rounded on pundits who had questioned whether her and Venus were in decline after a barren 2004 which saw either of them fail to win a grand slam for the first time since 1998.
The 23-year-old said that injuries and trauma caused by the murder of their sister Yetunde Price were often overlooked by those who had written them off.
"I don't appreciate that language, to be honest with you," Williams replied when it was remarked that prevailing talk had been of a decline in fortunes.
"I'm tired of not saying anything, but that's not fair. We've been practicing really hard. We've had some serious injuries," said Williams, who missed the Australian Open through injury last year after winning in 2003.
"I mean, I've had surgery. And after surgery, I got to the finals of Wimbledon. I don't know too many people that have done that.
"Venus had a severe strain in her stomach. I actually had the same injury, but I didn't tear it the way she did.
"If I would have torn it, I wouldn't have been here. That's another understatement. She played a player yesterday that just played out of her mind and Venus made some errors that she probably shouldn't have made.
"And to top it off, we have a very, very, very, very, very close family. To be in some situation that we've been placed in in the past little over a year, it's not easy to come out and just perform at your best when you realize there are so many things that are so important.
"So, no, we're not declining. We're here. I don't have to win this tournament to prove anything. I know that I'm out here and I know that I'm one of the best players out here."
Williams now faces Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals on Thursday, the teenage Russian who defeated her in the Wimbledon final last season. Revenge would not be a motivating factor however.
"Revenge? No, I look at it as a chance to be in the finals here again," Williams said. "But I got to play that one first."
