Serena plays down knee injury

Defending champion Serena Williams has denied her hopes at the Australian Open will be undermined by an injury to her left knee.

The four-time winner looked restricted by the complaint during the final of the Sydney International on Friday when she was beaten by Elena Dementieva 6-3 6-2.

The American chose to call off her scheduled practice session at Melbourne Park today, but said that was only to allow herself to rest ahead of her first-round tie against teenager Urszula Radwanska on Tuesday.

Asked if the knee had been hampering her preparation, Williams replied: ‘Absolutely not. The knee is much better.

‘I definitely wasn't at my best (against Dementieva). But I feel like it's very comforting to know that I wasn't at my best in that match.

‘What athlete really is at 100% every time? Probably never.’

Williams is also due to defend her doubles crown at Melbourne Park alongside her sister Venus and admitted she would exercise caution in the lead-up to what promises to be a busy schedule for the 28-year-old.

‘I definitely had a lot of practice in Sydney getting that far,’ she said.

‘I don't want to push it, go too far.

‘I definitely want to do the best I can obviously, but I also want to pace myself.

‘Hopefully I can play seven singles rounds and six doubles rounds.’