Serena Williams (U.S)

Age: 20
Lives: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Plays: Right-handed, double-handed backhand
Grand Slam titles: Three (Wimbledon 2002, French Open 2002, U.S. Open 1999)
Record at U.S. Open: 2001-runner-up, 2000-quarter-final, 1999-champion, 1998-third round.

Serena would have been firm favourite to pick her third successive Grand Slam crown this year but her progress may be hampered by a knee injury.

Suffering from acute knee tendinitis, the younger of the devastating Williams sisters was forced to withdraw from the Canadian Open last week.

Powerfully built with a serve to match, Serena could become the first player since Steffi Graf in 1996 to win three majors in a row in one calendar year.

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