Champ focused on retail therapy after responding to critics

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This was published 17 years ago

Champ focused on retail therapy after responding to critics

By Bill Scott

DEFIANT Serena Williams will hold up her third Australian Open trophy as a shield despite putting those who doubted her in their place.

The American's long-odds 6-1, 6-2 hammering of Maria Sharapova in yesterday's final gives the eight-time grand slam winner some breathing space after two years of carping from her critics.

Williams, who moves back to 14th in the world on Monday after standing 95th at the start of the year, had a message to the knockers: "I had so many critics, so many people talking bad about me, saying I'm not fit," she said. "I thought I was fit and could last three hours If I'd needed to.

"Tell me 'no' and I'll show you I can do it. It was an awesome win."

The American, who won her last major title two years ago at Melbourne Park, was preparing for retail battle after winning $1.2 million.

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"I'm gonna do some shopping. I've been in the hotel for two weeks. I want to go out and enjoy myself. I finally get to treat myself. I need some new earrings."

Williams said she didn't recall her match point, only the celebrations.

"I remember falling on the court," she said. "I was so happy going over to see my mum."

Williams said she deserved her success after two years of struggle.

"I've been working hard over the past year," said the woman who played in just four 2006 events. "My results just didn't show it. But it all came together here in the final - that's always the best time."

With her rapid rise, the swaggering Williams confidence is also back.

"This goes down as one of my good matches," she said. "I'm insatiable. I always think I could have done better. That's my character. But I was focused and always going for it."

Sharapova said the second game, which she lost from 40-15, was the trigger for the 63-minute rout.

"But I got to a grand slam in my first event of the year, so I can still be pretty proud," she said.

The Russian teenager cannot forget that it was Williams she beat in the 2004 Wimbledon final, her breakthrough to the world stage.

"Now, I expect myself to win the big matches," she said. "She came out today and played flawless tennis."

"I wasn't frustrated , I just told myself, 'You can always find a way, even if you're down a set and two breaks'."

That never looked like happening.

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