Wilander: Serena Williams is timeless. US Open controversy was unfortunate

• Tennis News
• Serena Williams

The seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander praised Serena Williams' opening round match win over Tatjana Maria at the Australian Open. The American only dropped two games to reach the second round, and Wilander, speaking on Eurosport with Barbara Schett, praised the 23-time Major winner's ability to deliver such brilliant tennis after not playing any match on Tour in four months.

'She has basically gone anywhere since the US Open and I do not know she does it because she needs to play any competitive match to come up and be competitive', said Wilander. 'Of course, she has played already three matches at the Hopman Cup, it's an exhibition but players take that very seriously.

For her, she is so serious, motivated and focuses if it's practice or matches that count for her because she seems to be able to cheer all her energies and emotions on hitting that yellow ball as hard as she can. After a match like this, Serena has put herself on a very high position on the favourites' list to win.

Getting into this match mood, she is relentless. She was moving maybe better than she was last year.' Wilander also reflected on the US Open controversy between Serena and the chair umpire Carlos Ramos: 'What happened at the US Open was weird, unfortunate, some of it was much probably on her fault.

Most of it probably was probably not on her fault. The circumstances were weird and I think she has done a great job in coming up to another season, being a professional tennis player and really serious. She is absolutely timeless.'

Serena has made her way to the third round, after defeating Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday. ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal: Worse players than David Ferrer won a Grand Slam title