Monday 2 February 2015 11:51, UK
Serena Williams is to adjust her playing schedule to focus on more Grand Slam titles as she sets her sights on Steffi Graf's open-era record of 22.
Williams claimed her 19th Grand Slam title with her victory over Maria Sharapova in Melbourne on Saturday.
She extended her winning streak against the Russian to 16 matches with a hard-fought 6-3 7-6 (7-5) victory under the roof on the Rod Laver Arena, claiming a sixth Australian Open title and her first since 2010.
It means the 33-year-old moved out of a tie with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on 18 Slam singles titles each and to within three of Graf's record.
Williams acknowledged it will not be easy to win three further titles - or even one more - given the level of competition from the likes of world No 2 Sharapova, double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and rising stars Madison Keys and Eugenie Bouchard.
But the world No 1 has now won two Slam titles in succession since adopting a more relaxed attitude after realising she had been trying too hard to catch Evert and Navratilova by winning title number 18.
She will play fewer regular WTA Tour events to ensure she is at her peak when the next Grand Slam event arrives with the French Open in Paris from May 24 to June 7.
"When I think about Paris, I don't think about 20. I just think about winning there," Williams said. "It's the one Slam I don't have more than two titles. I only have two there.
I definitely am not going to play as much this year and I'm just going to go for everything when I do play. But I'm not playing as much...try to be more focused in every tournament I get into.
"So I think now that I got this under my belt, I'm a little more comfortable with my ranking now. Now I can really move. I did so bad last year at Roland Garros and Wimbledon as well [losing in the second and third round respectively].
"So those are the two I really have my eye on, because I would like to do better at those. And I know I can do better. I'm not going into it as thinking of number 20, but I want to win Roland Garros.
"I definitely am not going to play as much this year and I'm just going to go for everything when I do play. But I'm not playing as much...try to be more focused in every tournament I get into."
In a long acceptance speech, Williams made a point of thanking her coach Patrick Mouratoglou for masterminding her success, later revealing that even with 18 Grand Slam titles already under her belt, she was not always confident of making it to number 19.
"He's helped me a great deal," Williams added.
"You know, there's some times when a player doesn't believe in themselves. Even me, I feel like, 'Gosh, I'm not going to be able to beat this person. I'm not going to be able to play well. I don't feel confident in this shot today. I don't feel confident in that.'
"He really stood up this past two weeks, even hitting and doing things that he's never done before, just really encouraging and giving me great strategy on the court before every match; wonderful strategies, what to do, what to expect, as well as how to play a better game, not for today but for tomorrow."
