Serena a tough act to follow
BRISBANE, Australia—There may be no tougher act to follow in any sport in 2016 than Serena Williams’ attempt to match her nearly perfect season of tennis last year.
Williams, who won the first three majors in 2015 and lost in the US Open semifinals—26 consecutive wins in majors, just missing a calendar-year Grand Slam—will begin that attempt when she teams with Jack Sock for the American team at the Hopman Cup in Perth.
The Americans play their first match Monday against Ukraine.
The tournament is part of the Australian Open Series that includes the Brisbane International, which begins Sunday and includes defending champions Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, and next week’s Sydney International and Hobart International, culminating in the start of the Australian Open on Jan. 18 at Melbourne Park.
Last year, Williams began her 53-3, five-title season with a win over Sharapova in the Australian Open final. She followed that with a win on clay in the French Open and on grass at Wimbledon before losing in a shocking upset to Roberta Vinci in the USOpen semifinals.
Her singles opponent in Perth on Monday, Elina Svitolina, is winless in three matches against Williams.
“Sometimes she starts slowly,” Svitolina said. “You never know if she’s going to serve an ace, or a double fault.”