Serena Williams entered for ‘family-friendly’ Australian Open tennis | Tennis News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Serena Williams entered for ‘family-friendly’ Australian Open tennis

Agence France-Presse, Sydney | ByAgence France-Presse
Dec 08, 2017 03:10 PM IST

Tennis ace Serena Williams was among 98 of the 100 top women, and all of the men’s top 100, to be confirmed for the season’s opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open.

New mum Serena Williams has accepted a place at the 2018 Australian Open and is “anticipated to return” to the tennis tournament in January, less than five months after giving birth, organisers said Friday.

Serena Williams won her seventh Australian Open title in January last year.(AFP)
Serena Williams won her seventh Australian Open title in January last year.(AFP)

The defending women’s champion was among 98 of the 100 top women, and all of the men’s top 100, to be “confirmed” for the season’s opening Grand Slam, they said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

(Read | Svetlana Kuznetsova out of Australian Open tennis with wrist injury)

World number ones Simona Halep and 16-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will both be in Melbourne, but all eyes will be on Williams, who won this year’s tournament while pregnant.

Tournament director Craig Tiley said this week it was “highly likely” she will make her comeback at the opening Grand Slam of the season, and he repeated those sentiments Friday.

“Last year’s tournament broke all of the records and we look forward to welcoming back new mum Serena as she attempts to equal Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slams,” he said in a statement.

(Read | Johanna Konta to work with Maria Sharapova’s former coach ahead of Australian Open)

“We are definitely a family-friendly event and many players including reigning champion Roger Federer travel with their children to Melbourne so we remain optimistic that she will return.”

Williams gave birth to daughter Alexis Olympia in September and married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian last month.

The tournament is also set to see the return of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka, who have all been out with injuries.

(Read | Marat Safin baffled by how Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are still winning)

“We have been in regular contact with Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka, who are all set for the Aussie summer,” said Tiley.

“They will all have lower rankings meaning there’s a real chance we’ll finally see a breakthrough from one of the rising stars like Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem or David Goffin.”

The only two players within the top 100 to pull out so far are Russian world number 12 Svetlana Kuznetsova, who recently underwent wrist surgery, and China’s Zheng Saisai, with a right knee injury.

The tournament takes place from January 15-28.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On