Aunty Venus hungry

Declaring age just a number, Venus Williams has arrived down under intent on keeping the Australian Open trophy in the family.

While her sister Serena isn’t ready to defend her crown just four months after having her first child, Aunty Venus is desperate to go one better than last year’s defeat in a retro allWilliams title decider.

‘‘What else could you do beside try to win and be confident on court and beat whoever’s across the net,’’ Williams said when asked if she hoped to win the Open for the first time. ‘‘What else do you hope for?’’

Turning 38 in June, Williams would become the oldest grand slam champion in history if she raised the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup January 27. But the former world No 1 and seven-times major winner insists playing for records doesn’t even enter her mind.

As well as her run at Melbourne Park, Williams also reached the finals at Wimbledon and the season-ending championship and returns to Australia ranked fourth in the world.

The veteran will open her 2018 season at the Sydney International – 20 years after losing the 1998 final to Arantxa Sanchez Vicario when the event was still staged at White City.

Williams is seeded second in a heavyweight draw featuring six grand slam champions, including her Wimbledon final conqueror Garbine Muguruza, French Open titleholder Jelena Ostapenko and US Open winner Sloane Stephens.

- AAP