Williams ready for French test

Serena Williams is fit, focused and bidding to end a decade-long wait for success at the French Open.

The 30-year-old's only grand slam title on clay came in 2002 at the start of a sequence that would see her win all four grand slam titles in succession to complete the so-called Serena Slam. Roland Garros has certainly not been her favourite venue since but she heads into the French Open on a winning streak of 17 clay-court matches.

However, Williams insists she is not thinking too much about a 14th grand slam singles title, saying: "It would be really intense and really crazy, but I'm just ready to get out there and start playing. Obviously there are several people here that want to win. I think I'm one of those people. I'm just going to focus on doing my best."

Williams, who faces France's Virginie Razzano in round one, pulled out of her last tournament in Rome ahead of a semi-final against Li Na because of a back problem, but she is confident that will not be too much of a hindrance.

"I took a couple of days off and I got a lot of treatment and stuff like that," said the fifth seed.

"I feel a lot better. I've played a lot, so I don't know if that's what it was."