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In just her third tournament this year and second since January, Serena Williams isn't finding the transition back to circuit life difficult.
"It's kind of like an old pair of jeans that I can always go to. I knew what they felt like once I was back in them," says the seven-time Grand Slam tournament champion, who continued her comeback Thursday in the JP Morgan Chase Open in Carson, Calif., by knocking off Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. With the win, Williams advanced to the quarterfinals to face Meghann Shaughnessy.
Williams, 24, who has been sidelined most of 2006 with a chronic knee injury, lost to seventh-seeded Hantuchova in the third round of the Australian Open in January and did not return to play until last month at Cincinnati, where she reached the semifinals.
"I feel like I'm improving with each match," Williams says.
"That's definitely the way to go whether you win or lose: making improvements."
One reason the transition is smooth: Comeback mode is familiar territory for the former No.1.
Since dominating the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in 2002-03, including four consecutive Grand Slam titles, Williams has been sidelined by a variety of ailments. She strained ligaments in her left knee and thigh in 2003 that required surgery, and she sprained her ankle badly last spring. Because of her injuries, she has averaged fewer than 10 events in the last three seasons.
Still, she is not an opponent any player wants to see on the other side of the net, especially since her low ranking makes her a highly dangerous floater.
"I can't think of anyone who wants to draw Serena right away," TV analyst Mary Joe Fernandez says. "She's always a factor, even when she's not in the best shape."
Questions about Williams' fitness, health and motivation remain. "As long as I can stay fit through all the matches, I'll be OK," says the 5-9 baseline basher, who withdrew from an event in the San Diego area last week to rest her knee. "I'm just taking it one week at a time, just trying to get through this tournament and see how I feel."
Not yet in top shape, Williams looks much fitter than several weeks ago. While recovering, she spent several weeks working under the watchful eye of Nick Bollettieri at his academy in South Florida.
Though she will have just a few tournaments under her belt heading into the U.S. Open this month, the confident Williams thinks she can contend for the title.
"Going into the Open, I would hope to be able to challenge even the toughest of players," she says. "I've always considered myself up there with the toughest, and probably the most mentally tough for sure. I have a lot of positives."
Williams' forays into fashion design, frequent stops on the celebrity circuit and less-than-ideal physical condition in recent months have left her open to criticism. Chris Evert, now the publisher of Tennis magazine, wrote an open letter in the publication questioning Williams' dedication.
Williams says the criticism is unfair, though she blocks it out.
"I didn't read any of that stuff," she says. "You don't know what happens behind closed doors and what people are really going through. So until they can figure that one out, as far as I'm concerned, I don't listen to all that stuff.
"I don't dwell on other people," she adds. "I know what I have to do. You have to be happy with what you're doing."
Is she happy to be back on court?
"I'm ecstatic," she says.
*Tournament results, 17C
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