Serena Williams to return in December in Abu Dhabi
: Serena Williams will make her first competitive appearance since becoming a mother at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships, tournament organisers have confirmed. Williams has not played since winning a record 23rd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.
She gave birth to a daughter, Alexis, in September but is now ready to make her comeback, at the invitational event in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
“I am delighted to be returning to the court in Abu Dhabi for the first time since the birth of my daughter in September,” Williams said.
AZARENKA TO MISS ASB CLASSIC IN AUCKLAND
: A continuing custody dispute has prevented two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka from resuming her tennis career at the ASB Classic in Auckland from January 1.
Azarenka notified organisers on Sunday that she will be unable to play the tournament for “personal reasons.”
The former world No. 1 has not played since Wimbledon in July because she cannot leave California until a dispute with her former partner over the custody of their son Leo is resolved.
HAD TO RAISE THE BAR , SAYS HAMILTON
Lewis Hamilton said the 2017 season was a key year and he worked hard to raise the bar against Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel.
“My whole mindset was there’s a four-time world champion we’re competing against,” Hamilton said.
“There’s no one else in my view or in my mirrors, it’s just him and it’s going to take everything to extract everything from the car. If I don’t he will and also he’s going to be consistent because he’s a four-time world champion so I’ve got to be even better and try to raise the bar every time.”
ISRAEL EXCLUDED FROM SAUDI-HOSTED CHESS
Israeli players have been denied visas to participate in a speed chess championship hosted by Saudi Arabia, a vice president of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) said on Sunday. Seven players had requested visas for the event on Dec. 26-30. It would have marked the first time Saudi Arabia had publicly hosted Israelis as the Gulf state does not recognize Israel.