Momentum could be gathering for Serena Williams’ return to the tour after she hinted at a comeback in a social media post on Monday.
The former world No.1 hasn’t played a competitive match since winning her 23rd grand slam title at the Australian Open in January. Williams has since given birth to her first child in September followed by marrying her partner, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
There has been no formal comment from the 36-year-old concerning when she will return to the tour. Although the director of the Australian Open, Craig Tiley, recently told reporters that it was ‘likely’ that she would play in the event. A tournament that she hasn’t missed since 2011.
“She has got her visa, she has entered, she’s practicing, and she probably just needs a bit more space for a bigger entourage,” Tiley said.
Speculation about Williams’ presence in the first grand slam of 2018 has now grown following her latest post on Instagram. She has uploaded a photo of her on the court wearing gold and white Nike shoes. Under the photo is the caption ‘Be excited. Be very excited.’
Next year Williams will be aiming to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 grand slam titles. She will also be aiming to join a elite group of players that have won a major title after giving birth. A milestone that has previously been achieved by Court, Evonne Goolagong and Kim Clijsters.
“I don’t lose any sleep over her (Williams) chasing my records,’ Court recently told The Daily Mail. “I don’t think anybody will break the 62 (total grand slam titles won), but the 24 will probably go. Even Federer is on 19.”
Williams is currently ranked 22nd in the world due to her absence from the tour. So far in her career, she has spent 319 weeks as world No.1 and has won 72 titles on the WTA Tour since 1999.
