Serena Slam' Now it's the Serena Slump
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-06 06:56

"I think it totally depends on the individuals that you're dealing with and certain athletes and certain female tennis players over the years have shown different priorities," she said.

"Some play tennis and do a little bit outside with the marketing and everything that goes with it."

Williams' disappointing loss to world No 8 Dementieva - the first in five meetings - was followed by a surprising doubles defeat with 25-year-old sister Venus to Kim Clijsters and Sania Mirza.

While Clijsters and Mirza are an unaccustomed pairing, the Williams sisters have won six Grand Slam doubles titles and Olympic gold in Sydney.

But Serena and Venus, who won her opening match of the season later yesterday by beating Mirza 6-3, 6-3, responded by going on a well-publicized shopping trip in a popular Hong Kong mall.