• Australian Open

Serena battling illness ahead of Sharapova final

ESPN staff
January 30, 2015
Serena Williams believes Madison Keys will go on to be world No.1

Serena Williams cut short a practice on the eve of the Australian Open final against Maria Sharapova due to a cold she's been battling for the past week.

The No.1-ranked American was shown in footage on Australia's Channel 7 network coughing into a towel and blowing her nose before she abandoned the practice session on Friday.

Katie Swans into final

  • Great Britain has two finalists at the Australian Open this weekend after Katie Swan reached the junior girls' final at Melbourne Park. Full story

She later said in a statement released by the WTA: "I had a false start. I wasn't feeling really well. I've been sick with a cold all week, and I got better, then I got worse the morning."

She was feeling well enough to return to the practice court in the afternoon.

Williams, who beat Madison Keys in the semi-finals on Thursday, will be aiming for her 19th Grand Slam singles title when she takes on Sharapova on Saturday.

Williams struggled throughout her morning session © Getty Images
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