But the biggest change occurred closer to home. The three-set loss to Hingis in Australia was a classic contest. I was barely alive out there. Since then, she has not played a tournament, having pulled out of Paris and Scottsdale, Ariz., citing health reasons. Rust, however, doesn't seem one of Williams' problems.
Few players are better at coming off long layoffs.
Before the '99 U.S. Open, she had played only once after the French Open. Search the archives of the Los Angeles Times for similar stories. You will not be charged to look for stories, only to retrieve one.