Serena mania in full swing
So much for those snarky comments about whether Serena Williams would actually turn up for the ASB Classic.
The world No 2, who has 22 Grand Slam singles titles to her name arrived in Auckland early yesterday morning, on the same flight from Houston as her good friend Caroline Wozniacki and they were followed a few hours later by Venus Williams.
Ever since it was announced a couple of months ago that Serena would be coming to New Zealand for the first time for the 2017 ASB Classic, there have been plenty of people who doubted whether she really would come.
But she has and she wasted little time between landing and hitting the courts for two hours from midday.
Oh, and she even managing to squeeze in announcing her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian during that time too.
During her time on court she was put through her paces by her entourage, working on a number of shots as well has fine tuning that big serve she has.
A media event organised through one of her sponsors later in the afternoon was canned and she’s only given three one-line answers to journalists on her first day in New Zealand.
Those were given as she made the short walk from the Auckland Airport arrival gates to a car waiting outside.
It was fairly mundane stuff, where she said it was because of Venus that she decided to start the new season in Auckland.
‘‘It was all Venus, so we should just thank Venus when she arrives,’’ Serena said.
Venus has become a regular visitor to the Classic, enjoying the friendly nature of the tournament. She’d often been asked if she’ll persuade Serena to come and the younger sister said Venus had told her nothing but good things about it.
‘‘She told me it was great and that I should come and I always listen to my big sister.’’
At the age of 35 and having achieved everything possible in tennis and she’s at the stage where she wants to experience new cities.
‘‘It’s always fun to go places you’ve never been and I’m excited to be here.’’
Wozniacki walked alongside Serena through the airport terminal and seemed amused and pleased that the media scrum weren’t interested in her.
So much for being world No 1 for 67 weeks.
Some time later Venus’ flight from Los Angeles touched down.
She was considerably more relaxed as she headed to her car, chatting with fans and hugging tournament volunteers that she’s got to know over the past few years.
Walking and talking at a slower pace than Serena, Venus confirmed that she had talked up playing in New Zealand to Serena.
‘‘I did, I’ve been telling her and she’s been drinking the Kool-aid,’’ Venus said.
While this is Serena’s first trip to Auckland, it will be the fourth time Venus has played the Classic and she says she’s loved making this an annual event.
‘‘Really, the welcome that we get and how everyone appreciates what we do,’’ she said when asked why she keeps coming back.
‘‘We really do try to entertain when we’re out here, fighting our hearts out.
‘‘It’s all good stuff, all of the time here.’’
At 12pm Serena was on Centre Court at the ASB Tennis Arena and an hour later Venus was on court five quietly working away on her own preparations for next week.
Once Ana Ivanovic announced her retirement, this became the tournament of the big three, but so far it’s all been about just the one player really.