ExWimbledon champion Bartoli announces return to WTA Tour

PARIS: Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli announced on Tuesday that she will return to professional tennis in 2018 after more than four years in retirement.

The Frenchwoman shocked the tennis world when she quit the sport in 2013, a little over a month after winning her maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, saying her body could no longer keep up with the demands of the sport.

In July last year, she told Britain’s ITV’s This Morning programme that she was suffering from a virus and feared for her life.

The 33-year-old confirmed her return to the women’s tour in a video posted on her official Twitter account.

“I have something to tell you — I’m coming back this year on the professional tour,” she said. “It’s going to be a huge challenge. I still have a lot of practice ahead of me, but I’m hoping to be ready for March and the Miami Open.”

DJOKOVIC PICKS NEW FORMAT

SYDNEY:Former world No 1 Novak Djokovic will warm-up for a tilt at a record seventh Australian Open crown by playing in an innovative quickfire event at the Melbourne venue.

Djokovic, who has been sidelined since July with an elbow injury, is making his return to the game at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi from December 28-30.

The Serbian world No 12 and volatile Australian Nick Kyrgios will headline the eight-man Tie Break Tens tournament at Margaret Court Arena at Melbourne Park on January 10.

Each match will last for one tiebreak, with the first player to 10 points winning.

The tournament will be completed on the night, and the winner will pocket $250,000.

The Australian debut of the novel format comes after three previous events in London, Vienna and Madrid.

Kyrgios, who brought an early end to his season in October because of a hip injury, said the tournament “really suits my game style”.