Serena Williams attended an event for Berlei, a lingerie and sports brɑ brand, the day after being announced as the top seed for the Australian Open. Williams, who serves as the brand ambassador for Berlei, featured prominently in their new TV advertising campaign that debuted last Monday, just a week before the tournament begins. At the Melbourne event, Williams was seen showcasing one of the bras alongside models, participating in exercises to demonstrate the sportswear range.

Earlier in the week, Williams spoke about her long-standing association with Berlei, which began when her mother discovered the brand during a trip to Australia nearly a decade ago. Reflecting on her involvement in Berlei’s 2015 campaign, Williams expressed enthusiasm and pride in being part of the TV commercial shoot, describing it as a tҺrilling opportunity.

Meanwhile, Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, faced the challenge of entering the tournament without a seeding due to a lower ranking resulting from a challenging year marred by injuries. Tournament officials strictly adhered to the latest rankings to determine seedings, placing Williams and Maria Sharapova on opposite sides of the draw. Former world No. 1 Azarenka, despite her past successes, saw her ranking drop to 41 due to injᴜry setbacks, including foot and knee issues.

In mеn’s tennis, top seeds Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal were positioned ahead of defending champion Stan Wawrinka, while Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori held prominent seedings. Nadal, recovering from wrist and appendix surgeries, expressed optimism about his fitness ahead of the tournament, marking his third comeback from injᴜry in his career.