MELBOURNE - Without the "fit or fat?" conundrum the tennis world was debating ahead of last year's Australian Open, Serena Williams starts her women's singles title defence today confident she is in close to career-best shape.
Despite questions about her weight and fitness last year, Williams powered tothe 2007 women's final and tore apart Maria Sharapova to win the title in straight sets.
The American returns to Rod Laver Arena this morning to play Slovakian-turned-Aussie Jarmila Gajdosova in a first round match.
"My preparation's been really good. I've been just training every day - it's been really good and positive," Williams said.
"My body will allow anything. It's ready for anything. "
Should Williams advance as expected, her main threat could well come in the semi-finals, where she is drawn to meet current world No.1 Justine Henin.
The Belgian missed last year's Open as she sorted out her separation from her husband, but returns to Melbourne Park with a first round clash today against Japan's Aiko Nakamura, ranked outside the world's top 50.
Much interest will centre on former world No.1 Lindsay Davenport's first Grand Slam appearance since giving birth to son Jagger seven months ago.
Unseeded Davenport, who has been in red-hot form since returning to the tour, plays Italian Sara Errani on Margaret Court Arena.
In other women's action, fifth seed Sharapova takes on Croatian Jelena Kostanic Tosic on Vodafone Arena, while Australian Alicia Molik plays Estonia's Kaia Kanepi on Rod Laver Arena in the first of the night matches.
Men's No.2 seed Rafael Nadal plays Serbia's Viktor Troicki, while No.4 seed Nikolay Davydenko, sixth seed Andy Roddick and rising Briton Andy Murray are also scheduled to play first round matches.
Davydenko, whose match against Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello in Poland in August remains under investigation over allegations of unusual betting movements, plays Frenchman Michael Llodra.
In a strange twist, former Wimbledon doubles champion Llodra has the highest profile of several players on the men's tour who claim they have turned down offers of money to fix matches.
Roddick plays Czech Lukas Dlouhy, while ninth seed Murray plays Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
