Australian Open: 'Ill' Serena Williams Skips Practice on Eve of Final
Serena Williams, who battles second seed Maria Sharapova in the final, was seen coughing and blowing her nose before abandoning her practice session on Friday.
Serena Williams cut short a practice on the eve of the Australian Open final against Maria Sharapova due to a cold she's been battling for the past week. (Serena, Sharapova and the 'black heart' rivalry)
The No. 1-ranked American was shown in footage on Australia's Channel 7 network coughing into a towel and blowing her nose before she abandoned the practice session on Friday. (Sania Loses, Paes wins; dream of all-India final shattered)
She later said in a statement released by the WTA: "I had a false start (this morning). I wasn't feeling really well. I've been sick with a cold all week, and I got better, then I got worse the morning." (Murray defends fiancee over televised outburst)
She was feeling well enough to return to the practice court in the afternoon.
Williams will be aiming for her 19th Grand Slam singles title when she takes on Sharapova on Saturday.