MELBOURNE // Serena Williams, the world No 1, on Sunday revealed she has a back injury and almost pulled out of the Australian Open, after she was upset in the fourth round by Ana Ivanovic.
The top seed said she was on strong medication and her movements were hindered, but refused to blame the problem for her performance.
“Maybe I wasn’t the best physically, but that had nothing to do with it,” she said, after being sensationally upset by the Serb 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth round.
“I think Ana just played a really good match. She did what it takes to win.”
Williams did not give any details about her the back problem, but she said it had been affecting her for several days and she almost quit ahead of her third-round victory over Daniela Hantuchova.
“I almost pulled out. I’m such a competitor. I mean, I probably should have,” she said.
“I have just been on the strongest meds I can take, that are legal, which my body didn’t handle it well because I haven’t been taking anything.
“So I was like really kind of out of it for a few days.”
But she added: “Like I said, again, I don’t want to blame anything. I feel like Ana deserves all the credit. I feel she played unbelievable today. I think she went for her shots.
“It’s not like I gave her the match. I tried to fight the best I could today. But, yeah, I almost didn’t play. But, hey, I did, and at least I feel good that I tried the best that I could on this day.”
The defeat ended Williams’ bid to match Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova with 18 Grand Slam titles as well as her quest for a sixth Australian crown.
She had already pulled out of the doubles on Friday, although that was blamed on an injury to sister Venus.
Ever the optimist, the 32 year old, who won a career-best 11 titles last year and was the overwhelming favourite at Melbourne Park, said the defeat could work in her favour.
“I’m always disappointed when I lose, but it’s always a good thing,” she said.
“I plan on getting better. I think it’s almost good that I lost today because now I know what to work on I know what to do when I get on the practice court.
“I feel very encouraged to go home, and pain or no pain, just to start working even harder. Every time I lose I feel like I get better, and I’m going to definitely go home and do a tremendous amount better.”
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
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READ MORE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
