Serena Williams is set to make a return at the first Grand Slam of the year in January, the Australian Open according to tournament director, Craig Tiley.
The 36-year-old has not played since winning last year’s tournament in Melbourne when she was pregnant with her first child. Williams gave birth to a girl in September and has taken to the practice courts in preparation for a return in 2018.
Tiley told the Herald Sun, Williams is “very likely” to return to tennis in Melbourne.
“She’s got her visa, she’s entered, she’s practising. There’s no question she’ll be ready in our view,” he said.
Australia’s Margaret Court is the only player ahead of Williams, 24, in terms of Grand Slam singles titles making her the most successful player in Grand Slam history.
Tiley thinks the 23 Grand Slam champion has her mind on breaking the record. “She wants to break a record that is Margaret Court’s. It would be a pretty significant accomplishment for her to be able to do that.”
