Nadal looks for return to Oz form

World number two Rafael Nadal wants to put his inconsistent performance in last year’s Australian Open behind him as he tries to return to the form he showed in Melbourne early in his career.

The 21-year-old lost in straight sets to Fernando Gonzalez last year after a gruelling five-set clash with Andy Murray in the last eight.

The number two seed will launch his attempt to wrestle the crown from Roger Federer when he takes on a qualifier in the first round but he is scheduled to meet American Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals.

The Spaniard reached the final of his last tournament in Chennai where he was thrashed by Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets following an epic semi-final win over Carlos Moya.

Nadal said: “In 2005 I played very well. I had a big chance to go to quarter finals, but I lost to (Lleyton) Hewitt.

“Last year was my worst year here. This year I’ve arrived feeling well, I had some matches in Chennai, so I hope I’ll be right for Monday. I am confident. I’ve practiced very well this week.

“In Chennai I played some tough matches, and winning that semi-final was important for my belief heading into the first big tournament of the year.”

Women’s champion Serena Williams believes the biggest threat to her title defence in Melbourne will be from her sister Venus, and not from world number one Justin Henin.

Serena produced a stunning fortnight at Melbourne Park 12 months ago, becoming the first unseeded champion of the women’s event in 29 years.

She comes into 2008’s first Grand Slam seeded number seven, but said she feels no extra pressure as the defending champion.

“Last year I was completely under the radar and had no expectations from anyone. That really made me want to prove everyone wrong. This year, it’s completely opposite, where I more or less have a lot of expectations, but I’m still here for me, more than anyone else,” she said.

The younger Williams sister has the utmost respect for top seed Henin, who wrapped up her Australian Open preparations with a win over second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final of the Medibank International in Sydney, but said her biggest concern is her sister Venus, who is on the opposite side of the draw.

“My biggest concern is who I practice with every day, Venus. She’s playing unbelievable, she gets every ball back.

Justine is a big concern as well, but I don’t necessarily think about my opponents like that, in terms of who I have to be concerned about.

I tend to focus on what I need to do. And if I can do that right I can have positive results,“ she added.

The draw has not been overly kind to Williams, who plays Australian Jarmila Gajdosova in the opening round and is placed in the same half as Henin, number three Jelena Jankovic, 2006 winner Amelie Mauresmo and rising star Nicole Vaidisova.

But she is hoping the confidence gained from her success her last year will be able to get her through those obstacles and into another all-Williams Grand Slam final.

“Obviously I always come in thinking I’m going to go all the way and I want to win,” she continued. “Every time I walk down the hall and I see my picture on the wall, it’s such a good moment and such a good memory and I love having my picture on the wall. It’s my favourite thing.”