Serena Williams ‘excited’ about returning Down Under for 2019 Australian Open
Serena Williams will make her return to the Australian Open next year, having missed this year’s edition following the birth of her first child.
The American won the women’s singles title at Melbourne Park in 2017 while a few weeks pregnant with her daughter Olympia.
She was initially expected to play in this year’s hard-court Grand Slam Down Under, but withdrew a few weeks before the start of the event.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley, though, says she has signed up for the 2019 edition.
“I’m delighted to announce that Serena Williams will return to the Australian Open in January,” he said.
“We last saw Serena here in Melbourne as our champion, holding the Daphne Ackhurst Memorial Cup in 2017. Of course what we didn’t know at the time was that she was already eight weeks pregnant with baby Olympia.”
He added: “Serena loves coming to Melbourne and I know she’s excited about returning in January with her family, it’s definitely a very special place for her.
“She’ll also be super-focused on winning here, and equalling Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.”
More from Tennis365:
Ten Facts about Garbine Muguruza on her birthday, featuring Beyonce selfies and Oreo brownies
ATP betting preview: Deadly Novak Djokovic to shine in Shanghai
Tennis Today: D-Day for Wimbledon, Roger Federer hula hooping and Novak Djokovic meditating
Quiz! Test your knowledge on the history over the Shanghai Masters
Top 10: Andy Murray and other tennis stars who need a bounce-back in 2019
Latest
-
Tennis FeaturesAll-time top 10 ATP prize money earners: Novak Djokovic sweeps past Roger Federer
The 2018 ATP Tour season has comeso it is only right that we give you an updated career prize money list.
-
Tennis TodayTennis Today: The rehashing of Maria Sharapova’s 2014 quotes and a Justin Gimelstob update
In Tennis Today, Sharapova is back in the news, or is she?
-
Tennis VideosWATCH: Red Star Belgrade fan Novak Djokovic gives his team a boisterous welcome
Novak Djokovic delivered on his promise to watch Red Star Belgrade.
-
Davis CupAlbert Costa hopes Rafael Nadal can convince fellow pros to play in Davis Cup finals
Rafael Nadal to the Davis Cup’s rescue?
-
Tennis NewsAndy Murray offers possible solutions to tactical toilet breaks and medical timeouts
Andy Murray’s possible solutions to two problems.
-
Tennis NewsThe best winning mentalities in tennis: ‘Being number two sucks’
John McEnroe was known for his… document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) { var commentBoxDiv = document.getElementById("vuukle-comments"); var commentBoxDivAfter = document.getElementById("div-gpt-ad-1533224667953-0"); var cloneCommentBoxDiv = commentBoxDiv.cloneNode(true); commentBoxDiv.parentNode.removeChild(commentBoxDiv); commentBoxDivAfter.parentNode.insertBefore(cloneCommentBoxDiv, commentBoxDivAfter.nextSibling); }); #vuukle-comments{position:relative!important;} document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) { var emoteBoxDiv = document.getElementById("vuukle-emote"); var emoteBoxDivAfter = document.getElementById("vuukle_box"); var cloneEmoteBoxDiv = emoteBoxDiv.cloneNode(true); emoteBoxDiv.parentNode.removeChild(emoteBoxDiv); emoteBoxDivAfter.parentNode.insertBefore(cloneEmoteBoxDiv, emoteBoxDivAfter.nextSibling); }); #vuukle-emote{position:relative!important;} document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) { var powerbarBoxDiv = document.getElementById("vuukle-powerbar"); var powerbarBoxDivAfter = document.getElementById("vuukle_box"); var clonePowerbarBoxDiv = powerbarBoxDiv.cloneNode(true); powerbarBoxDiv.parentNode.removeChild(powerbarBoxDiv); powerbarBoxDivAfter.parentNode.insertBefore(clonePowerbarBoxDiv, powerbarBoxDivAfter.nextSibling); }); #vuukle-powerbar{position:relative!important;} var VUUKLE_CONFIG = { apiKey: "bc9fd4eb-d7be-4d00-87ef-b570563b015f", articleId: "46421", tags: "", author: "", // Lang wordpressSync: true, eventHandler: function (e) { console.log(e); if (e.eventType == 'wpSync') { jQuery.ajax({ type: 'POST', data: { "action": "save_comment_to_db", "comment_post_ID": e.comment_post_ID, "comment_author": e.comment_author, "comment_author_email": e.comment_author_email, "comment_author_url": e.comment_author_url, "comment_content": e.comment_content, "comment_type": e.comment_type, "comment_parent": e.comment_parent, "user_id": e.user_id, "comment_author_IP": e.comment_author_IP, "comment_agent": e.comment_agent, "comment_approved": e.comment_approved, "comment_date": e.comment_date, "comment_date_gmt": e.comment_date_gmt, "comment_karma": e.comment_karma, "_wpnonce": "ace602e7bf" // WPCS: XSS ok }, url: "/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php", beforeSend: function () { }, success: function (data) { } }); } }, // Articles - recommendations in emotes and comments widget recommendationsWideImages: false, recommendationsProtocol: "https://www.", globalRecommendations: false, // Colors darkMode: false, color: "108ee9", // By Widget comments: { vuukleAuth: false, hideRecommendedArticles: false, hideCommentInputBox: false, enabled: true, commentingClosed: false, maxChars: '3000', countToLoad: '5', toxicityLimit: '80', spamLimit: '90', sorting: 'latest', transliteration:{ language: 'en', enabledByDefault: false, }, customText: { recommendedStories: 'TALK OF THE TOWN', }, }, emotes: { enabled: true, hideRecommendedArticles: false, size: '70', // icons size firstImg: '', firstName: 'HAPPY', secondImg: '', secondName: 'INDIFFERENT', thirdImg: '', thirdName: 'AMUSED', fourthImg: '', fourthName: 'EXCITED', fifthImg: '', fifthName:'ANGRY', sixthImg: '', sixthName: 'SAD', disable: [], customText: {}, }, powerbar: { enabled: true, defaultEmote: 1, customUrls: { facebook: '', google: '', twitter: '', linkedin: '', }, customText: {}, items: [ ], }, }; (function () { var d = document, s = d.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.src = 'https://cdn.vuukle.com/platform.js'; (d.head || d.body).appendChild(s); })();
-
Tennis TodayTennis Today: Nick Kyrgios and Andy Murray banter, ‘tough times’ for Roger Federer
In Tennis Today, Nick Kyrgios and Andy Murray banter.
-
WTA TourWTA awards for Petra Kvitova and Naomi Osaka’s coach Sascha Bajin
It’s that time of the year again where the WTA hands out awards.
-
Tennis NewsRafael Nadal gives fans first glimpse of return to tennis court after surgery
World No 2 Rafael Nadal has returned to training following surgery.
-
Tennis BettingTennis betting special: Rafael Nadal 11/10 to continue Grand Slam streak in 2019
Derek Bilton back with tennis betting specials.