Melbourne  - Hard economic times have not come down too hard on Serena Williams with the second seed making a lightning raid on a Chapel Street boutique.

But the world number two might have tipped her hand that even she might be feeling the heat as she bought a pair of items from a rack filled with merchandise marked down to half-price.

Melbourne  - Serena Williams Saturday said she plans to spend plenty of time alone in her hotel room, downloading films and TV shows and making her own entertainment in between matches at the Australian Open.

Calling herself "terrible" for Hollywood balance sheets, the three-time champion has become a huge fan of on-demand entertainment.

"I love to watch TV, I've gotten into iTunes," she said. "I'm terrible for the whole music industry and movie industry because I download movies and music and TV shows.

Sydney  - Top seed Serena Williams flirted with disaster before finally emerging from a lengthy sulk to survive 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5 against Australian Samantha Stosur in the opening round of the Medibank International on Sunday.

Stosur, ranked 51 and with the home crowd in her corner, had a horror day, sending over double-faults on two of her four match points while leading 5-4 in the final set.

Perth, Australia  - Serena Williams is booked for a series of three exhibitions this week in the United States, but that fact has not kept the world number two from withdrawing as defending champion at next month's Hopman Cup.

Williams and James Blake had been due to defend their title at the eight-nation mixed team competition starting January 3.

But Williams, claiming a hamstring injury, said she would be unable to participate. Her place in the team of five-time champion US will be taken by world number 50 Meghann Shaughnessy.

On Sunday night, Serena Williams jumped with joy after ousting Jelena Jankovic with a straight-set win over 6-4, 7-5, in a thrilling match full of spectacular strokes and momentum swings. This was William’s third U.S. Open championship and ninth Grand Slam title.

In the final four games, Williams was simply inexorable managing a straight-set win over Jankovic.

Miami - Serena Williams smashed a racket and tossed away seven match points before finally limping to a 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 title win Saturday at the Miami Masters against Jelena Jankovic.