Bristling Serena denies being under-prepared

NEW YORK, Sep 5 (Reuters) A defiant Serena Williams said her lack of preparation was not the reason behind her defeat by world number one Amelie Mauresmo in the fourth round of the U S Open.

The American, champion in 1999 and 2002, exited the event in the last 16 for the second year in succession, beaten 6-4 0-6 6-2 by top seed Mauresmo.

Williams went into the U S Open having played just three events in 2006 due to a left knee injury and with her ranking hovering just inside the top 100.

But after losing to Mauresmo in a hard-fought contest on Arthur Ashe Court yesterday, Williams bristled at suggestions she had not prepared well enough.

''I don't think it was a factor,'' she said.

''I think I could have come out on top had I made a few more shots and had I just been a little bit more consistent.

''I just don't think I played well tonight. I think if I would have played the way I played yesterday or my first- or second-round match, the results would have been different.

''Whether that's a lack of match play, I'm not one to make excuses. I think it just boiled down to me not playing as well as I did in all my other matches. That's the bottom line.'' Williams said Mauresmo's tactics of blocking her serves back into play had worn her down in the end.

FELL APART ''I just got down an early break and, you know, just fell apart after that,'' she said.

''I just wasn't able to put balls away as much and I guess the blocking just became more and more, more balls being blocked back.

''I was playing I think a little too far behind the baseline. She just kept blocking.'' Since winning the Australian Open in 2005, Serena has not been past the fourth round in any grand slam event.

But despite her lack of success, the 24-year-old said she was not that far away from the form that helped her to dominate the sport in 2002 and 2003, when she won five out of six grand slam titles.

''The only difference is I'm older,'' she said.

''Other than that, I don't think there is a difference.

Actually, I think right now I'm more calm than I was. That's it.'' The former world number one said she planned to play some events in Europe in the next month or two to get her ranking up.

''I'm just going to have fun and it's really just a matter of me just playing better in the big matches,'' she said.

''It's just a matter of time. It's not that big for me. I don't see me in this position much longer.'' REUTERS DH BS0803