An upbeat Venus Williams shrugged off any concerns ahead of the new season despite suffering a quick-fire straight-sets defeat by Vera Zvonareva at the Hong Kong Tennis Classic last night, the American's first outing since August.
Injuries have plagued Williams' career, with the latest knee problem keeping the 30-year-old world number five on the sidelines since reaching the semis at the US Open. That event was her only outing in the final six months of the year, after reaching the last eight at Wimbledon.
And though the annual exhibition event at Victoria Park was her only outing before the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne in less than two weeks, Williams spent just 75 minutes on court, as world number two Zvonareva dispatched the seven-time major winner 6-4, 6-2.
'Coming back in the first match of the year you are not sure what to expect, and I think I made a few errors and didn't put as many balls in the court as I would have liked,' said former world number one Williams, who started last year in fine style with back-to-back wins in February before injury struck.
'I just need to get out there and play points. I don't feel any pressure to get out and play my best tennis, as I know that will come with every match.'
Zvonareva, who made two grand slam final appearances last year, crucially broke Williams' serve for a 3-2 lead in the first set. A further break in the opening game of the second frame set Zvonareva on her way before Williams again lost her serve in what proved to be the penultimate game of the match. The Russian won the final three games.