Williams eager to defend Miami title

MIAMI, Mar 19 (AFP): Serena Williams steps back into her comfort zone as the world number one begins her campaign to defend her title at the Miami Masters tennis tournament Thursday.

The 32-year-old last played while suffering back pains in a semi- final loss a month ago in Dubai, going down to Alize Cornet of France.

After bypassing the Indian Wells tournament again because of a family feud with organisers which has lasted for 13 years, the 17-time Grand Slam winner said that she cannot wait to get back on court.

"This is home, I don't have to travel and I train her a lot at the courts," Williams said. "I'm used to the conditions, the wind and the heat. I've been waiting for this for quite awhile."

The American said her back is not currently a problem, adding that a treatment regime seems to have done its job.

"I have to do a lot to make sure it stays loose, but it's not a worry now."

The top seed-ahead of China's Li Na and Indian Wells finalist Agnieszka Radwanska-opens play against the winner between former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone and Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan.

Williams will be glad to get back to the heat of WTA competition although she also cannot help but feel a few nerves.

"I feel disappointed when I cannot play my best in a match, like I've let the fans down. There is always tremendous pressure and I actually feel it more in the early rounds than maybe the later ones.

"But I'm super-psyched right now, I'm ready to play. It can get so boring just training, even if I know it's all part of the big picture. I'm still so eager to compete, I don't see an end to my career anytime soon."

While Williams is optimistic, Radwanska is cautious, revealing little about the state of her sore left knee. The Pole has yet to lift a title in 2014 after winning three last season.

"I've still got a few days until I play," said the third seed, who gets a bye into the second round and could start as late as Friday. "I'm taking lots of treatment, that's all I can do."

Another news adds: Andy Murray will have to solve the problem of his patchy play quickly if he hopes to defend his Miami ATP Masters title against a star-studded field.

Murray departed Miami last year ranked second in the world after a razor-thin victory over David Ferrer in the final gave him his second Sony Open title.

He went on to claim an emotional second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, but the 26-year-old has yet to reach a final since having back surgery in September and is currently ranked sixth in the world.

The Scot was at a loss to explain a third-set collapse against big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic in the fourth round at the Indian Wells Masters last week and admitted his confidence was at low ebb.

That will put him at a distinct disadvantage against the likes of world number one Rafael Nadal, who returns to Miami after skipping last year's tournament to rest his troublesome knees.