Serena Williams to return at Mubadala World Tennis Championship
The Mubadala World Tennis Championship will be the stage for Serena Williams' return to competitive action after becoming a mother.
Published : Dec 24, 2017 22:35 IST
Serena Williams will make her first competitive appearance since becoming a mother at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships, tournament organisers have confirmed.
Williams has not played since winning a record 23rd grand slam singles title at the Australian Open in January.
She gave birth to a daughter, Alexis, in September but is now ready to make her comeback, and will take on surprise French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko at the invitational event in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
READ: Serena entered for 'family-friendly' Australian Open
"I am delighted to be returning to the court in Abu Dhabi for the first time since the birth of my daughter in September," Williams said in a statement.
"The Mubadala World Tennis Championship has long marked the beginning of the men's global tennis season and I am excited and honoured to be making my comeback as part of the first women to participate in the event.
"I look forward to seeing the fans in Abu Dhabi at the 10th edition of the championship very soon."
For Williams, the event is expected to serve as the first of a series of warm-up tournaments as she prepares to try to defend her Australian Open crown at Melbourne Park next month.