Super Williams now turns her focus to gridiron (Feature)

By Bill Scott Jan 31, 2010, 6:44 GMT

Melbourne - Serena Williams is heading off to the American football Super Bowl next weekend in Miami buoyed by her fifth title at the Australian Open.

The American finally won in Melbourne during an even-numbered year (previous titles came in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009), taking a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win over Justine Henin, who was playing her second match since reversing a retirement which lasted 20 months.

Williams, now a 12-time Grand Slam winner - and a minority owner along with sister Venus in the Miami Dolphins - can't help boasting about another of the multitude of perks in her charmed life.

'I do have Super Bowl tickets, but they're for sale,' said the woman who surely gets in free with her part-time NFL status. 'They're for for sale. Hello. They're like 10,000 dollars. They're nice suite seats.'

The next days should give the world number one some respite after playing the Grand Slam in the garb of a mummy due to the massive amount of taping on her various injuries.

'I pulled a hamstring in Sydney, so I was devastated by that,' she explained. 'However, when I strapped it, it felt a lot better.

'And then something happened to the side of my leg in Sydney. Of course, I tape my ankles for prevention.

'I think in the third round I twisted my ankle, and I fell against Victoria Azarenka and hurt my wrist. And then somewhere in between there my toes started hurting ...'

The pain is sure to be soothed by another winner's cheque (1.9 million dollars) along with her extra payday for lifting the doubles title again with Venus.

But Williams said that even her victory celebration after subduing Henin was laboured.

Due to a combination of factors, the muscular winner had trouble raising herself enough to be able to greet members of her player box after the win at the Rod Laver arena.

'I did a pull up, but my muscles freezed because there's no chance I could lift my weight in a pull up,' she said. 'There was no chance I would have made it up, it was a hopeless cause.

'I was thinking about going inside, taking the elevator and then going inside, but there's no way I would have made it. Thank God the chair (she eventually stood on) was there. I made it that far up.'

Williams said that breaking through with an even-year win was a minor relief. 'I was totally okay with winning every other year. So I don't know if I'm guaranteed to win next year or not,' she joked.

Losing finalist Henin, the 2004 champion, remained amazed at her run to the title shot after playing only since the start of January.

After some rest and recuperation, the 27-year-old said her next tournament target will likely be Indian Wells from March 10 in California.

'I just need a few more days to take my decisions and really make a plan and talk with (coach) Carlos Rodriguez) about that.

'I know the way is still long in terms of where I want to go as a tennis player, and I know I'll have to work harder.

'I'm gonna do it, for sure. What I did was just amazing in the last few weeks. I went all the way to the final, I'm keeping a lot of good things now.'