Serena Williams will start her 2016 season at the Hopman Cup in Perth where she will team up with Jack Sock. It will be the only tournament for Serena ahead of the 2016 Australian Open where she will defend her title won in 2015 when she defeated Maria Sharapova in the final. In 2015 Williams reached the final of the Hopman Cup with John Isner to kick off a very successful season in which she clinched three Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Williams and Isner lost the final against a Polish team formed by Agnieszka Radwanska and Jerzy Janowicz. Williams has not played since she was beaten by Roberta Vinci in the US Open semifinal last September.
“Perth definitely started something quite amazing so I think it’s natural and fair that I go back to Perth. We were so close to winning last year. I am really excited to be back”, said Williams.
Lucie Safarova announced on twitter that she will not play at the Hopman Cup.
“Unfortunately my health complications continue and I had to cancel the Hopman Cup. I will do my best to be back”, said Safarova.
Petra Kvitova and Agnieszka Radwanska, who played the WTA Finals title match in Singapore, have scheduled two tournaments in Shenzhen and Sydney. Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber will start their season in Brisbane which will highlight an impressive line-up featuring Maria Sharapova and Garbine Muguruza. Sharapova will defend her title won last January in a tight three-set final against Ana Ivanovic after dropping a combined nine games in the first three matches against Yaroslava Schvedova, Carla Suarez Navarro and Elina Svitolina. In 2014 Sharapova lost to Serena Williams in the semifinal.
