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Serena Williams’s coach confident she’ll be ready for Australian Open

Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, says she is healthy and ready to play in the Australian Open. 
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Serena Williams has struggled to regain her form since losing in the semifinals of the U.S. Open last September, withdrawing from the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia last week and dealing with knee pain while playing in the International Premier Tennis League in December. However, with the start of the Australian Open just four days away, Williams’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, says she is healthy and ready to play.

“She’s in very good health,” he said to the New York Times. “Her knees simply responded badly to a treatment that she received a few days before the Hopman Cup, and she experienced swelling. These are things that happen sometimes.”

The treatment Mouratoglou was referencing is something that he says Williams undergoes every six months. He said that at 34-years-old, Williams’s knees suffer from wear and need extra attention. He does not believe that will hamper her success moving forward. 

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Mouratoglou also said that he recommend that Williams rest after the U.S. Open loss to Roberta Vinci, as she was down both physically and mentally.

Williams had one of the most dominant seasons for a tennis player ever in 2015, winning five singles titles, including three Grand Slams. 

The qualifying rounds for the Australian Open started on Wednesday and the main draw will be released on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET.