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Serena Williams says the ankle injury she suffered during her first round win at the Australian Open against Edina Gallovits-Hall will not force her to withdraw from the tournament.
The 15-time Grand Slam champion, who is1.90to win her sixth Australian Open title this month, had to have lengthy medical treatment on her right ankle after slipping but returned to the court to wrap up a 6-0 6-0 success.
"Unless something fatal happens to me, there's no way I'm not going to be competing," said the 31-year-old American afterwards.
"I'm alive. My heart's beating. I'll be fine. I've been injured before. I've played this tournament with so many injuries and was able to come off pretty much on top. So for me it's just another page and a great story to tell the grandkids one day."
Meanwhile, the world number one and defending champion Victoria Azarenka insisted she was not experiencing any problems with her toe injury after beating Monica Niculescu 6-1 6-4 in her opening match.
The Belarusian,4.33to retain her title in Melbourne, had been forced to withdraw from the Brisbane International earlier this month with the injury which she blamed on a bad pedicure, but appeared to be back to her best against Niculescu.
After her victory, Azarenka said: "I couldn't wait to get out there and play. It's been a long week of preparation, so you always feel a little bit overwhelmed before your first match.
"I am running without pain and am just trying to focus on the next two weeks."
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