Tennis - Williams feels unbeatable heading into U.S. Open

Williams was not making any bold statements about her chances of winning the U.S, Open, starting on Monday, but with 16 grand slams titles already under her belt, but says she feels she is playing with the house's money.

"I don't need to do anything," she told a news conference at the annual media day on Saturday.

"That's the beauty of my career. I don't need to do anything at all. Everything I do from this day forward is a bonus."

Despite knowing her place in the pantheon of tennis greats is already assured, Williams is not resting on her laurels just yet.

The world number one already has her sights set on more grand slams, including this year's U.S. Open, where she is the overwhelming favourite to successfully defend the title she won last year.

"My motivation just comes from different place and different areas," she said.

"I love to play tennis and I love winning and I think that keeps me motivated. I want to keep it up and I want to keep improving and try to keep winning."

Williams has always had an unwavering belief in her ability to perform at the biggest events since she won her first U.S. Open in 1999 when she was just 17 years old.

"When the tournament started, I told myself I was going to win and I felt it. I have these weird feelings all the time," she said.

"I wasn't really surprised. I mean, I was happy and elated, but I just had this instinct that I was going to win this title."

That win was the start of her domination of the women's game. Last year, she won her fourth U.S. Open, aged 30 and has shown no signs of slowing down. In June, she won the French Open, which has traditionally been her toughest major, for a second time.

If the American wins again at Flushing Meadows, she will become the oldest female champion in New York since tennis turned professional in 1968.

"That would be great but that's not one thing I focus on and think about," she said.

"I just think about there are so many people in the competition and so many things I would like to do.

"The instincts don't come as often this time, nowadays. I don't have an instinct. But I have also had that feeling going to a lot of slams I have won."

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US Open - Azarenka poses danger for Williams at US Open

As the greatest player of her generation, Williams is the obvious choice to win the women's singles tournament, starting on Monday, but faces challenges on several fronts including the calendar.

If she wins, the 31-year-old American will be the oldest woman champion since tennis turned professional in 1968 but time has not caught up with Williams just yet.

"I'm definitely prepared. I'm definitely ready for New York. I'm looking forward to it," she said.

"I feel like I definitely had more matches than I could want, but I'm definitely prepared for the U.S. Open."

The American is already the second oldest grand slam winner after she won last year's U.S. Open and has captured eight titles this season, including the French Open. But not everything has gone her way.

A quarter-final loss to Sloane Stephens at the Australian Open and a fourth-round defeat to Sabine Lisicki at Wimbledon were followed by her gut-wrenching loss to Victoria Azarenka at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati earlier this month.

Williams seemed to have the match under control when she cruised through the opening set only to lose in a third-set tie breaker, boosting Azarenka's confidence heading into the year's final grand slam.

The pair are seeded one and two and are drawn to meet in the final, just as they did last year. Williams beat Azarenka 7-5 in the final set 12 months ago but remains aware of the danger posed by the Belarusian.

"I'm a big Victoria fan," Williams said. "I think she's just the ultimate competitor on the court and just really nice.

"I really get along with her. She's just a great person."

The 24-year-old Azarenka won her second consecutive Australian Open this year and is perfectly suited to the unforgiving hardcourts at Flushing Meadows.

One of the few players who is unafraid of slugging it out with Williams in the cauldron-like atmosphere of Flushing Meadows, Azarenka looms as the obvious danger in what has all the makings of a great rivalry.

"Every time we play, I face a big challenge, my biggest opponent," Azarenka said.

"Playing in the final of any tournament against the best player, that's what you really strive for and to overcome and beat.

"I've had tough losses before against her but I feel like I learned from those losses, and it helps me improve."

The chances of the pair meeting in the final have increased since the withdrawal of Maria Sharapova, because of injury, and the shock retirement of Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli but there are plenty of other dangers lurking in the draw.

Australia's Sam Stosur won the U.S. Open two years ago, upsetting Williams in the final, and won in California earlier this month.

Although she is yet to win a major, Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska has been a model of consistency. A finalist at Wimbledon last year, she made the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and the French Open this season and the semi-final at Wimbledon.

China's Li Na has also been in great form this season, reaching the final in Australia and the last eight at Wimbledon.

The Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova, who won Wimbledon in 2011 but has failed to make a grand slam final since, remains an unknown quantity while the rapidly Stephens lurks as the danger card.

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Tennis - Williams wins fourth clay title of season in Bastad

It made it 28 clay court wins in a row for Serena with five of her seven 2013 titles coming on the surface - four on red clay and one on green clay (Charleston).

Larsson got off to a good start in her home tournament, breaking in the opening game, and was 3-1 in front early but the eight seeded Swede only went on to win two more games as Serena took control.

It was the 53rd WTA title of Williams' career and puts her level with Monica Seles for ninth on the all-time list in the Open era.

Meanwhile in Bad Gastein, Austria, Yvonne Meusburger delighted the home fans by winning the first title of her career against Andrea Hlavackova of Czech Republic 7-5 6-2 .

Meusburger is ranked only 86th in the world but enjoyed a fantastic tournament – not dropping a single set all week.

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