There were jubilant celebrations when Serena Williams last competed at Rod Laver Arena in 2017, the American superstar having just defeated sister Venus for her seventh Australian Open crown, and 23rd Grand Slam singles title in total.
Within that remarkable achievement were a string of records for the talented Williams, who at 35 years and 125 days, became the oldest Grand Slam champion of the Open era. She was also the most prolific, after edging ahead of Steffi Graf’s 22 major titles.
And as it transpired, Williams’ achievement was greater than anyone realised. Only Serena’s closest confidantes knew at the time that she was competing while in the early stages of pregnancy, with baby daughter Olympia born the following September. It follows that much has therefore changed since then, Williams’ professional playing life now parallel to her bigger role as a mother.
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Yet much remains the same for Serena, who is as motivated as ever if her 2018 comeback can be used as a measure. Contesting just seven events in an abbreviated schedule, the modern great was runner-up at Wimbledon and the US Open last season.
An 18th Australian Open campaign begins on Tuesday with the chance for Williams to achieve yet more tennis history, the American targeting the 24th Grand Slam title that would see her draw alongside Margaret Court as the all-time major leader.
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First, though, there’s a potentially difficult assignment against first-time opponent Tatjana Maria. The German is also a mother – to five-year-old daughter Charlotte – and determined to maximise every opportunity on tour. At Wimbledon last year, the 31-year-old Maria stunned world No.5 Elina Svitolina to claim the biggest win of her career.
Victoria Azarenka is another mother making a return to a successful Grand Slam setting, the two-time Australian Open champion now travelling with two-year-old son Leo. After a two-year absence from Melbourne, the Belarusian starts her campaign against Laura Siegemund. It is the pair’s first career meeting.
World No.1 Simona Halep also returns with both happy Melbourne memories and new milestones celebrated. After her stellar finals run of 2018 – in which she saved match points in the third round against Lauren Davis and in her semifinal win over Angelique Kerber – Halep’s life-changing event was of the professional kind, the 27-year-old at last becoming a Grand Slam champion at the French Open.
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Halep will draw on those memories as she begins her AO 2019 campaign against Kaia Kanepi in Tuesday’s first Margaret Court Arena night match. The world No.71 from Estonia would seem a straightforward prospect for the top-ranked Halep, but claimed an upset win over the Romanian in the first round of the 2018 US Open.
Another world No.1 also kicks off his Grand Slam season on Tuesday, with Novak Djokovic meeting American qualifier Mitchell Krueger. While the six-time Australian Open will be confident in his first match against the world No.230, there’s also the wider challenge of the seventh title that would make him the most successful AO male singles champion ever.
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But if there’s pressure for Djokovic, there’s also a boost in returning to such a favourite setting. “I’ve had lots of success in Australia in the past,” said the Serb, pointing to the support he receives both locally and from supporters internationally. “They call it the Happy Slam for a reason. There's a lot of good vibe, good buzz around the city. People of Australia love sport, nurture the sport values.”
And it will be happier still if those accomplished superstars can accumulate more memorable milestones at this Australian Open.