Serena Williams: Aging Star Is on Fast Track to 2012 Australian Open Title

Despite hitting the dreaded 30-year-old mark, which is usually the death knell for a tennis player’s career, Serena Williams is still one of the top female tennis players in the world.

She is also a serious favorite to win the 2012 Australian Open.

With injuries plaguing her in 2011, the best way for the aging superstar to usher in the New Year would be with a huge win at the Aussie Open. As good as Williams looks through the first few rounds, there is more in the tank.

Williams told the USA Today about how she is not at 100 percent in her mind, which should be a scary proposition for the remainder of the field:

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I'm nowhere near where I want to be. I’m just trying to play through it. A little rusty—just trying to play through my rust. I'm definitely going to keep representing the flag and doing the best I can.

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Imagine for a moment that you are a women’s tennis star in the locker room when Williams puts the idea that she can still get better out to the media. If I’m a player who has seen her run through the first three rounds of competition, I’m terrified.

This is quite possibly the most dominant female tennis player in the history of the sport and she is saying that there is another gear that she can shift into when the time comes. This almost certainly spells trouble for the field trying to stake their claim in the Australian Open Title.

Even if Williams can just continue to play the way she has, she will be a favorite to steal the whole show. If she does find that other gear, though, look out tennis world, Serena would be back in a HUGE way.

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