LONDON (Reuters) -- Four-times champion Venus Williams said she was blocking out all distractions on Sunday as she prepared to defend her Wimbledon title at a venue she described as the ultimate place to play tennis.

The 28-year-old American told a news conference she was not thinking about her main rivals, crowd support, what she would wear, who might win the men's competition or newspaper reports of betting scandals in tennis.
“Mostly I think about what it is going to take this year and what will I have to do to do well this year. How will I have to adjust? How is the grass playing? What challenges will I have to overcome?” Williams said. “I just focus on what's at hand.”
Williams, seeded seven, said she had “no particular observations” about new world number one Ana Ivanovic, other than that the Serbian top seed was obviously playing well.
She restricted any comment on rivals for her sister Serena, twice a Wimbledon champion, for whom she said she had the most respect. “Definitely I see her as a player who can produce any shot at any time from anywhere.”
Asked about her outfit after third seed and 2004 champion Maria Sharapova said she would be wearing shorts, Venus Williams said: “Nothing special...I'm not thinking about my outfit to be honest, just all about the yellow ball.”
Williams has wowed crowds with a variety of styles in the 11 seasons she has played at Wimbledon, starting as a teenager, her hair plaited with colored beads.
On British newspaper reports of match-fixing, she said: “That's really my least concern at the moment.”
The American, whose powerful serve and court movement are tailor-made for grass, said she had an advantage in arriving at the tournament as defending champion because it gave her confidence.
“The advantage is that you won it last year and it will never be taken away from you. It will always be yours and you can hug the plate at night if it gets cold,” she joked.
“I just think it's the ultimate place to play your best tennis the most wonderful tournament to win would definitely be here.”-