Serena Williams makes return to tennis in Abu Dhabi
By Harry Floyd
Serena Williams makes her return to the courts in Abu Dhabi. The American tennis great loses to Jelena Ostapenko in an exhibition.
Serena Williams drops her match to Jelena Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi.
The American tennis star, however, showed signs of brilliance as the match wore on. While it is just her first competitive match since last year’s Australian Open, fans and players alike are now wondering if she will play at Melbourne Park next month.
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The 2018 Australian Open is right around the corner. Williams appears to be evaluating her return to the 2018 WTA Tour on a day to day basis.
Jelena Ostapenko defeats Serena Williams in three sets, winning 6-2, 3-6, 10-5.
Ostapenko is the defending French Open champion. At just 20-years-old, the Latvian has become a top player in women’s singles tennis. She is playing in the Shenzhen Open this week.
The return for Williams was not exactly what many expected. It is not, however, necessarily a bad thing. Williams has been seen to not be at her best in exhibition matches in the past. Add on top of that not having played a singles match in nearly a year and she fared well overall. Anything can happen with the former world No. 1. If she decides to compete at Melbourne Park in the coming weeks, she must be considered a heavy favorite to defend the title. Last year, she defeated sister Venus in the finals.
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Look for Serena Williams to make a decision regarding the Australian Open in the coming days. The major tournament’s director is hopeful that the American tennis star will play at Melbourne Park. As play is just two weeks away, Williams ought to be evaluating the prospect of playing soon. While it is a quick turnaround, there is no doubt that Williams can make a deep run at the tournament. She is a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion. At the Australian Open alone, Williams has a total of seven titles to her name. Stay tuned to see if she is ready for action at the upcoming Grand Slam. Check back for all of the updates in women’s singles tennis as the 2018 WTA Tour kicks off.