Serena Williams sounded a klaxon warning just nine days before the Australian Open yesterday when she ougunned Kim Clijsters at the Hopman Cup mixed team event.
While in-form Clijsters has been practising hard in Australia for the past month, world No. 1 Williams only arrived Down Under at the beginning of the week yet she clubbed Clijsters 7-5, 6-3 before teaming up with James Blake to lead the top-seeded US into today's final.
Clijsters's team mate Xavier Malisse had put the brakes on the US charge, finally finding the "X-factor" to flatten Blake 7-6, 6-2 and push the tie into a decisive mixed doubles.
But Williams would not be denied, kept Blake's spirits up and led her team through with a 7-6, 3-6, 10-5 match tiebreak victory.
"I told James, `We better win or else,'" Williams smiled, waving her fist at her partner afterwards. "I'm definitely enjoying myself ... having a great time here."
They will face second seeds Australia in the title match.
Williams's victory -- sweet revenge for her loss to world number four Clijsters in the season-ending WTA Championships last November -- sent a strong message to the rest of the Australian Open field.
Holder of the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open crowns, Williams needs the Australian crown to complete what she is already calling a "Serena slam."
Yesterday she showed she is getting on track right on time, although, as ever, she expects more from herself.
"I am not at the level or anywhere near the level I need to be," she said. "But you can't be too hard on yourself ... especially when you are playing a tough player like Kim."
The start of play was delayed by 45 minutes by another power cut at the Burswood Dome but once the pair got on court Williams tore from the blocks, swinging hard and rocking the Belgian back on her heels.
She broke in the opening game, held comfortably and broke again as Clijsters struggled to contain the American's power.
Clijsters broke back, however, and eased ahead 4-3 to complete the reversal of fortunes.
Serving once more to stop the rot, Williams finally reined back and reaped the rewards, drawing level for 4-4. She broke again for a 5-4 lead but could not close out. Two games later, though, she did and clinched the set 7-5.
Once ahead, the American settled into her rhythm in the second set while Clijsters struggled further to find her range in the face of such power hitting.
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