Serena Williams who is ranked second in the world, believes that there is no one better, and that she is the real number one.
Two weeks ago, the 27 year old American, Serena Williams was overtaken in rankings by the Russian Dinara Safina. She is the older sibling of Marat Safin and they are the only brother-sister duo to have been number one in professional tennis.
Williams said during an interview last Monday “We all know who the real No. 1 is. Quite frankly, I’m the best in the world.” She also added “I always best myself” and sees that she sees herself as her toughest opponent.
Williams said with a smile “I’m excited for her,” speaking at the Italian Open, in which she won in 2002 and where she historically played her first clay-court event of the season. Williams opens against the 2005 runner up Patty Schnyder of Switzerland. Williams beat Safina during the Australian Open finals this year and has never won a Grand Slam title as well as losing last year’s French Open final.
During the warm up French Open, Williams cheerfully exclaimed “I’m happy to be here, I think it will be a good event for me.”
On the opposite side of the draw, her sister Venus Williams seeded fourth to Serena. She is also playing in Rome and is also scheduled to go against Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic on Monday.
Among the eight seeded players who have first round byes are Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and the 2006 runner up, and the two-time defending champion, Safina. Safina, the 2006 runner-up, two-time defending champion Jelena Jankovic of Serbia and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia are among the top eight seeded players who have first-round byes