Serena sits out AO

TENNIS superstar Serena Williams is pledging to return to Melbourne Park in pursuit of an eighth Australian Open crown after reluctantly withdrawing from this month’s showpiece.

The 23-time major winner and women’s titleholder gave birth to her first child last September and says she’s not yet ready for a comeback.

Williams made her decision after losing an exhibition match last week in Abu Dhabi to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

“After competing in Abu Dhabi, I realised that although I am super close, I’m not where I personally want to be,” Williams said yesterday.

“My coach and team always said ‘only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’.

“I can compete — but I don’t want to just compete. I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time.”

Williams last year beat older sister Venus in the final before revealing she played the tournament despite being more than two months pregnant. The 36-year-old had been desperate to defend her crown — one she cherishes as possibly her most memorable triumph — and equal Australian great Margaret Court’s alltime record 24 grand slam singles titles.

“Fun fact: my daughters ini- tials are AO as in the Aussie open she won with me @AustralianOpen,” Williams tweeted in a touching tribute to the Open after becoming a mother.

“The memory of last year’s Open is one that I will carry with me, and Olympia and I look forward to coming back again,” Williams added yesterday.

“I appreciate the support and understanding of my fans and everyone at the Australian Open.”

Open tournament director Craig Tiley expressed his admiration for Williams’s efforts to return to the game she loves.

“The true champion Serena is has been demonstrated in the herculean efforts she has made over the past few months in her desire to play the Australian Open,” Tiley said.

Romanian Simona Halep, the current world No. 1, and Dane Caroline Wozniacki are jostling for women’s top seeding status in Melbourne.