MELBOURNE: Serena Williams’ decision not to defend her Australian Open title four months after giving birth to her first child had nothing to do with merely being able to play at Melbourne Park.

The seven-time Australian Open champion confirmed Friday she wouldn’t attempt to defend the title she won here last year, saying she was “super close” to regaining full fitness but wasn’t convinced she could win it.

The 36-year-old was eight weeks pregnant last year when she triumphed for a seventh time at Melbourne Park, memorably beating sister Venus in the decider, to claim an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam title and then took the rest of the year off before giving birth to a daughter and marrying Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian at a star-studded wedding.

She has played just once in public since, losing to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi last week, but was still hopeful of making a remarkable return at the Australian Open until she admitted defeat a week ahead of the event.

“After competing in Abu Dhabi I realised that although I am super close, I’m not where I personally want to be,” Serena said in a statement on Friday. “My coach and team always said ‘only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’. I can compete — but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time.

“With that being said, and even though I am disappointed about it, I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year.”

Serena, however, is promising to return in future.

“The memory of last year’s Open is one that I will carry with me, and Olympia and I look forward to coming back again,” she said. “I appreciate the support and understanding of my fans and everyone at the Australian Open.”

Few players have successfully bounced back after giving birth, and even fewer have managed to go on to win Grand Slam titles.

Serena can look to Margaret Court, Kim Clijsters, and Evonne Goolagong Cawley as those who achieved the feat as mothers.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2018