Serena surprised at own form

Serena Williams is impressed with her clay court form since returning from an injury lay-off, saying she had not expected to fight for titles so quickly. Williams last week played her first tournament since the Australian Open, losing in the semi-finals of the Italian Open. She said yesterday that she was "surprised I did so well in Rome". The top-seeded Williams has a bye in the first round in Madrid and then plays the winner between Vera Dushevina of Russia and Belarusian qualifier Kirsten Flipkens.

* AP