BRISBANE: Serena Williams says she has fallen out of love with tennis despite recording an impressive comeback win over Chanelle Scheepers in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday.
Playing her first match since losing the US Open final to Samantha Stosur in August, Williams showed why she is the most feared player in the draw as she outgunned Scheepers 6-2, 6-3.
Williams, who missed the last four months of 2011, struggled at times with her first serve but still had too much firepower for the South African, sending down seven aces in the 68-minute victory.
The 30-year-old revealed later she was cutting her schedule back in 2012 as she prepares for life after tennis.
“I just want to be able to do other things that I'm doing and expand on that. I think that helps keep my motivation up,” she said.
Williams, who has won 13 Grand Slam singles titles, admitted she took the latter part of 2011 off because she was tired and said she did not love the sport any more -- if she ever had.
“I don't love tennis today but I'm here,” she said.
“I can't live without it -- there's a difference between not loving something and not being able to live without it.
“It's not that I've fallen out of love with it. I've actually never liked sports and I never understood how I became an athlete.
“I don't like working out, I don't like anything physical. If it involves sitting down or shopping, I'm excellent at it.”
