World number one women's tennis player Serena Williams has declared that none of her rivals can match her desire to bag the Australian Open title, claiming that if they want the title they would have to fight the American for it.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion won the last of her five Australian crowns in 2010 and expressed frustration that a sixth had eluded her for so long.
Williams, who is still irritated with an ignominious round four exit at last year's tournament, said that her determination to claim a special win was stronger than any other player in the 128-strong field, Sport24 reported.
Williams, who is the bookmakers' favourite to win the tournament, said that she has been going for number six for a number of years now, adding that it would be really special for her and she would be really happy.
The world number one tennis player claimed that she wants it more than anyone else there, adding that that doesn't mean she is going to get it so she would have to fight hard to get it.
The American held on to the top ranking for the entire 2014 season, ending the year with a flourish to take the US Open and the WTA Tour Championship.
Another Australian title would take Williams to clear second on the all-time Grand Slam winners list behind Steffi Graf's 22, having joined Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on 18 with her win at Flushing Meadows.
More From This Section
Williams said that it was exciting but also daunting to contemplate reaching the German great's benchmark. She said that 22 is so far away from 18, adding that when one is 18 years old one looks at someone that's 21 and one thinks that they're old.
So, the American said that it's a really big distance to get to 22, adding that she cannot think that far ahead and just has to think about 2015 at the Australian Open in particular.