Serena desperate for US Open title

Serena Williams is prepared to go without another victory this year,as long as she mounts a successful title defence at next weeks US Open. I have to stay focused and consistent and,most importantly,hungry, said the American,ahead of the seasons final major which starts on August 31.

Williams,who took her haul of Grand Slam crowns to 11 by winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year,said she would not be satisfied with two majors in 2009. If I crashed out at the Open for no reason Id have to win everything else the rest of the year, she said. Id win zero tournaments in order to win the Open again.

Williams has reached only one other final outside the Slams,and acknowledged that she should have taken a longer break after Wimbledon. A US Open title would draw her level with Billie Jean King in sixth place on the list of all-time womens Slam singles winners.

Somdev up against Bogomolov

New York: Aiming for a berth in the main draw of the US Open,161st-ranked Somdev Devvarman will open his campaign against 16th seed Alex Bogomolov Jr,ranked 133rd. Prakash Amritraj will begin against Colombias Alejandro Falla.