serena williams to make comeback
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

In Abu Dhabi exhibition match

Serena Williams to make comeback

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today Serena Williams to make comeback

Serena Williams will make a surprise comeback at the Mubadala exhibition event in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi - Egypt Today

Former world number one Serena Williams will make a surprise comeback at the Mubadala exhibition event in Abu Dhabi next Saturday, as she gears up for her Australian Open title defence in January.

The decision to play in the United Arab Emirates should virtually confirm Williams' participation at Melbourne Park.

The 36-year-old has not played since clinching a 23rd Grand Slam singles title 11 months ago, after revealing she was pregnant during the tournament and taking time off to give birth to her first child, Alexis Olympia in September.

Williams will return with a match against Latvia's French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, making them the first women to compete in the previously male-only event.

"I am delighted to be returning to the court in Abu Dhabi for the first time since the birth of my daughter," she said in a statement released by the tournament organisers on Sunday.

"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."

The former world number one can equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles, although she will have to make do with a low seeding Down Under after slipping to 22nd in the rankings.

Williams' comeback raises the prospect of a renewal of her one-sided rivalry with Maria Sharapova, after the Russian's own comeback earlier this year from a doping ban.

It also provides a boost the Australian Open, after two-time champion Victoria Azarenka pulled out of the warm-up event in Auckland over the ongoing custody battle that has stopped the Belarusian from playing since Wimbledon in July.

Serena claimed an Open-era record 23rd major title by beating older sister Venus 6-4, 6-4 in this year's Australian Open final, a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact that she was two months pregnant.

Ostapenko broke through with a stunning French Open title, and the 20-year-old will take on Serena for the first time.

The Mubadala event had already seen men's world number one Rafael Nadal and three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka withdraw.

The six-strong men's field in Abu Dhabi does feature Serb Novak Djokovic, who will also be making his comeback.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion has not played competitively since his quarter-final loss to Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon because of an elbow injury.

Source:AFP

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

serena williams to make comeback serena williams to make comeback



GMT 11:37 2017 Thursday ,12 January

Murray, Kerber top seeds

GMT 09:34 2017 Wednesday ,11 January

Kerber has Serena

GMT 11:39 2017 Thursday ,05 January

Auckland wants Serena back

GMT 10:53 2016 Tuesday ,06 September

Serena sails into US Open last eight

GMT 09:23 2019 Friday ,30 August

Testing

GMT 17:09 2017 Friday ,29 December

At least 14 dead in Mumbai fire

GMT 13:44 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Nine-time champion Loeb set for 2018 cameo

GMT 13:08 2017 Tuesday ,26 September

Bahrain's aluminum industry thriving, manned by 12,184

GMT 08:50 2017 Sunday ,03 December

Reza Zarrab, the star witness unnerving Ankara

GMT 18:26 2018 Friday ,14 December

Mashrou’ Leila headline Apple event in Dubai

GMT 12:35 2018 Thursday ,01 November

UN chief appoints new special envoy for Syria

GMT 12:41 2016 Friday ,09 December

Blatter blasts Infantino over lack of respect

GMT 03:22 2011 Thursday ,05 May

The Leela Palace New Delhi opens

GMT 10:13 2015 Saturday ,03 January

Fashion East reveals AW15 men's presentation line-up

GMT 13:24 2017 Sunday ,13 August

Plane makes emergency landing at Cairo airport

GMT 11:06 2016 Thursday ,15 September

WADA urges Russia to stop doping hacks

GMT 14:05 2014 Thursday ,18 December

Airbnb in Amsterdam tourist tax deal, first in Europe

GMT 09:26 2016 Monday ,29 August

Egypt seeks tougher penalties

GMT 09:08 2018 Wednesday ,10 January

Federer eyes fresh 'fairytale' as Slam rivals struggle
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday