Serena Williams, Classy as Ever Down Under

After losing to Elena Dementieva in the semis of the Sydney International yesterday, Serena Williams was her ever graceful self, scoffing at the No. 1 ranking that Croat Jelena Jankovic will carry into the Australian Open, which begins play on Monday.↵↵⇥“Best player?” Serena said with a laugh, in reference to Jankovic. “Uh, no. I don’t think anyone is better than me.”↵↵Those fighting words no doubt will stoke what promises to be a fiery women’s draw in Melbourne, as that coveted No. 1 spot will be up for grabs along with the women’s singles title at the year’s first Slam. Either Serena, Dementieva or Dinara Safina could all nab the WTA’s top ranking from Jankovic, should they triumph at the Aussie.↵↵Later on in her presser, however, Williams acknowledged that by far the hotter speculation down under is in reference to the men’s and not the women’s draw. After she dissed Jankovic and sang her own praises for a while, Serena was asked who she thought was the favorite in Melbourne. Without missing a beat she smiled and said, “Either Andy Murray or Nadal. But you can never count Roger Federer out.”↵

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