Serena shrugs off Sydney setback

Serena Williams today insisted she was still the best player in the world despite being seeded second for next week’s Australian Open and humbled in the semi-finals of the Sydney International.

The American was in bullish mood after learning she would be ranked behind Serbian Jelena Jankovic in Melbourne although her confidence did appear misplaced following a 6-3 6-1 thrashing by Russia’s Elena Dementieva.