SERENA WILLIAMS lives in Florida, has won titles at the height of the Australian summer, and has not the slightest worry that a heatwave of British proportions will threaten her Wimbledon chances.
The 33-year-old American preserved her perfect first round record at Wimbledon, but a 6-4, 6-1 win against Russian rookie Margarita Gasparyan on Court One was a thorough work-out. Next for Williams will be Hungarian Timea Babos on Wednesday, when temperatures in London are expected to push 35 degrees Celsius.
"It is going to be very hot. I don't think I've ever played in 34, 35 here. But I do in other countries," Williams said.
"I just was training in Florida. It was like 42 degrees. This will be okay."
Williams' press conferences can be peculiar occasions and it is easy to sympathise with her as questions buzz from one disparate topic to another.
From Monday's Williams experience, it emerged she would be good at queuing for Wimbledon tickets, felt it was "kind of a relief" to be away from Centre Court for her opening match, would pick Stan Wawrinka as a mixed doubles partner, admires the all-white dress code, and was nervous before joining Taylor Swift on stage at Hyde Park last Saturday night. Williams was also questioned about the horrendous church shooting in Charleston and the controversial issue of the Confederate flag. In her early days on tour, Williams refused to play in Charleston until the flag was taken down.
"Obviously what happened in Charleston is a tragedy yet again to our country, the United States. It's really unspeakable of how sad it is and how much of a toll it can have," WIlliams said.
"But you just have to continue to have faith, continue to believe, continue to be positive, continue to help people to the best of your ability. That's what they [the Charleston victims] were doing, they were just trying to help a young man that needed help. Hopefully, everyone can learn from them and continue to help no matter, just continue to have good faith."
Having practised on Jack Nicklaus' courts before flying to England, Williams was a touch match-rusty but once she recovered from going an early break behind against Gasparyan - losing her serve in the opening game - it was convincing enough.
Williams was in turmoil around this time last year, beaten in the third round by Alize Cornet before going out of the doubles when she suffered a dizzy spell on court and pulled out, along with sister Venus, after serving a flurry of double faults. Her game was questioned, her status as the leading player in women's tennis was under scrutiny and Williams responded like a champion. She will have her second 'Serena Slam' of all four Majors at the same time should she win this Wimbledon, and a first career calendar Grand Slam should she triumph in London and add the US Open in September.
"I've had such an amazing year, I ended up winning the [US] Open, the [WTA] Championships, the Australian and France. I couldn't have dreamt of a better 12 months. So it's been really great," Williams said.
The negative of her day, as she racked up a 16th first round win at Wimbledon before meeting up with her friend, Canadian rap star Drake? Presumably, the code violation she picked up for swearing in the sixth game.
"I know the rules," Williams said.
And the 'Serena Slam'?
"Honestly, I don't think about it," Williams said.
"But every time I come into press, you guys talk about it. So naturally it's definitely getting more on my mind than I want it to be. It's definitely historic. But it's also six matches away. It's definitely not guaranteed."
Venus Williams joined her younger sister in the second round by winning 6-0, 6-0 against fellow American Madison Brengle. The 35-year-old torched the hopes of an opponent 10 years her junior to achieve the rare 'double bagel' and make the prospect of an all-Williams fourth round clash look perfectly realistic.
It took the five-time champion just 41 minutes on Court Three, firing six aces and 29 winners in all against an outclassed opponent.
