TENNIS in DEPTH.

Venus Williams, at 29, is the elder stateswoman in all respects. The defending champion from the United States is charming and relaxed – though her form at the end of this year suggested she ought to be a touch troubled.

Since the final of Wimbledon in July, Williams has played seven tournaments, reached a single semi-final and in her last two events, in Japan and China, was beaten by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the Russian teenager, long before the business end of the week. As a form-guide for surviving against the other seven “best of the best” in 2009 this week, it is not healthy.

“I love what I do, so that’s a complete up for me,” she said. “I get to work outside. My thing is I get to make a living looking good. It’s my job to stay fit. It doesn’t get better than that.” Indeed not, though in relishing all of the positive attributes, one cannot help but wonder whether Venus can again lift one of the game’s golden pots.

Of her last 16 grand slam tournaments, Venus has won two, the Wimbledon titles of 2007 and 2008. Serena, her sister, bagged five in that time.

“I’m always determined, you got to have that determination hat on every single day, even at practice, to be prepared,” she said. “It’s a lifestyle. I’m at the point in my career where I’ve been very successful at every tournament just about, almost on every surface. For me it’s about obviously playing great tennis, adding to my repertoire, continuing to get better, to enjoy the challenge of it all obviously while being on top.”

Today’s initial challenge in the Maroon Group, comes from Elena Dementieva, the third Russian in the field with Dinara Safina, back at the head of the rankings, and the French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsoava.

The fresh faces are in the White Group where Caroline Wozniacki, the Dane who reached her first grand slam final in New York in September, and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, are this year’s debutants. They are ranked No 4 and No 6 respectively, two Europeans on the cusp of greatness, who are sure to be making noises in the game when Venus has kicked back in her rocking chair.

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