Serena Williams set for US Open bid after announcing Toronto entry

US Open

Tennis365
July 14, 2022

Serena Williams will continue her comeback at the National Bank Open in Toronto next month.

The 40-year-old played her first singles tournament for a year at Wimbledon, losing in the first round to Harmony Tan, but was non-committal on her plans going forward.

However, Serena Williams has signed up to play at one of the major US Open warm-up tournaments in Canada beginning on August 8, indicating she is planning to compete at Flushing Meadows.

She’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

That’s right, our 3-time champion @serenawilliams returns to Toronto. And she likes playing here, she’s reached the semis of better the last five times she’s played. #NBO22 pic.twitter.com/3OzZsEnBIP

— National Bank Open (@NBOtoronto) July 14, 2022

The 23-time grand slam singles champion is currently unranked having gone more than a year without winning a singles match.

Williams is a three-time former champion in Canada while she reached the final on her most recent appearance in 2019 but retired after only four games against Bianca Andreescu because of a back problem.

Speaking at Wimbledon about her hopes of playing at Flushing Meadows, Williams said: “When you’re at home, especially in New York, and the US Open, that being the first place I’ve won a grand slam, is something that’s always super special.

“There’s definitely lots of motivation to get better and to play at home.”

Williams was disappointed to drop out of Wimbledon after a first round loss to Harmony Tan whose forehand slice could give her nightmares.

“I think I could have played any person, probably would have had a different result,” Williams said after the defeat. “But I was not ready for — I knew going into it there was a lot of slice, but not so much on the forehand.”

Williams has not given up her pursuit of a 24th Grand Slam crown but after her most recent comeback ended in frustration few believe she can get up and win another Major.

Serena Williams