Serena Williams Returns

The 23-time Grand Slam Champion, Serena Williams making her return to competitive action after nearly a year away from the game as the first women player in the championship at the 10th Edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC), December 28-30.

Williams, who gave birth to her first child earlier this year, will play current French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko on day three (December 30) as she prepares for the year’s first Grand Slam next month, the website of the event mubadalawtc.com reported.

The 36-year-old Williams, considered by many as one of the greatest tennis players of all-time, will be aiming to equal the record for the most Grand Slam wins (24) at the Australian Open next month.

She said, “I am delighted to be returning to the court in Abu Dhabi for the first time since the birth of my daughter in September. The Mubadala World Tennis Championship has long marked the beginning of the men’s global tennis season and I am excited and honored to be making my comeback as part of the first women to participate in the event. I look forward to seeing the fans in Abu Dhabi at the 10th edition of the championship very soon.”

In the finals of the Australian Open earlier this year, Williams beat her older sister, Venus, in straight sets in the process also claiming her seventh title at Melbourne Park. The younger Williams who has 72-career titles has been top of the Women’s rankings for 319 weeks and posted her fifth consecutive top-three finish last year having won at Wimbledon and Rome.

Her opponent, Jelena Ostapenko, has won two WTA titles this year, including her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

Ostapenko said, “I am thrilled to be playing in Abu Dhabi at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. This will be the first time that women have taken part in the event and it is a huge honor to be part of that history after watching the tournament for many years. Last season was really incredible for me and I cannot wait to continue the start of my new season at such an amazing event.”