Serena hopes to end Dubai Open title jinx

Dubai - World No. 1 flopped on four previous attempts in Emirate

Superstar Serena Williams has high hopes of finally laying claim to one of the few tennis trophies to have so far eluded her in a record-breaking career. The 34-year old, who next month will equal Steffi Graf's record of spending three uninterrupted years as the world number one - is currently in Melbourne chasing a staggering 22nd Grand Slam singles title. But so far she has been unable to count the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships crown among her lengthy list of achievements.
Her four previous visits to the Emirates have ended in failure. In 2005 an injury forced her to retire during her semi-final with Jelena Jankovic, and in a dramatic 2009 semi-final she was defeated in a final set tiebreak by sister Venus. She returned to Dubai in 2013 but had to default her opening match, and in 2014 she suffered a shock semi-final defeat by Alize Cornet.
"It is remarkable that a player of the calibre of Serena Williams has so far failed to even reach the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, despite several attempts to add one of the most sought after trophies in the sport to her portfolio," said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free. "That is an indication of the strength of competition at one of the most popular tennis tournaments in the world. No one is guaranteed success no matter how high their standing in the game, and it will be interesting indeed to see if Serena can this year join her sister Venus, who is a three-time champion, as a winner here."
In 2015 Serena came desperately close to claiming a rare calendar year Grand Slam when, after winning her sixth Australian Open title, her third French Open crown and sixth Wimbledon fell victim to Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals of the US Open in what is considered by some to be one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport.
Although unable to add to her collection of 69 singles titles stretching back to 1999, she was recently honoured as the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the year, becoming the first active female athlete to win the award since the World Cup-winning US Women's National Team in 1999 and the first active tennis player since Chris Evert in 1976 to earn the distinction.
Whatever the outcome of her challenge, Serena is looking forward to her return. "I like Dubai. It's a great place to come," she said.

NATION

In 2015 Serena came desperately close to claiming a rare calendar year Grand Slam