Serena Williams has not competed since the Australian Open, where she reached the semifinals in early February.

But now the American tennis star is ready for the gravel season with the French championships just two weeks away.

- I have trained 2.5 weeks at Patrick's (coach Moratoglou) academy and trained a lot on gravel in the USA with teammates, says the 39-year-old.

This week she will play in Rome's gravel tournament as a boost before this year's second grand slam tournament, at Roland Garros in Paris.

- I'm fine, I'm in Rome.

I will hopefully get some good matches here and then it is a new grand slam tournament that I of course look forward to, she says at a press conference.

ARCHIVE: Williams knocked out - misses chance for record (February 18, 2021)

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Naomi Osaka knocked out Serena Williams, who was in tears afterwards.

Photo: TT