Rus first up for Williams

– Serena Williams will face Arantxa Rus in the Wimbledon first round as the seven-time champion begins her bid to win her first Grand Slam title since becoming a mother.

Williams, who hasn’t won a major title since the 2017 Australian Open before her pregnancy break, made her return to Grand Slam action at the recent French Open. She wasn’t seeded but reached the last-16 before pulling out with a shoulder injury.

She opens her Wimbledon campaign against Dutch world No 107 Rus before a second-round tie against Tereza Smitkova or Viktoriya Tomova.

It gets harder for her from there as she is due to face fifthseed Elina Svitolina in the third round.

Williams, who won Wimbledon in her last two appearances in 2015 and 2016, could have to take down 10th seed Madison Keys in the last-16.

Amid talk that many players are unhappy with the decision to seed Williams, she could see a friendly face on the opposite side of the net in a possible quarterfinal against close pal and reigning Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki.

US Open champion Sloane Stephens or Serena’s sister Venus – last year’s Wimbledon runner-up – could lie in wait in the semifinals.

In the final, Williams may have to see off world No 1 Simona Halep or defending Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza.

Spain’s Muguruza starts against Britain’s Naomi Broady, while 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova faces fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko and Romania’s Halep will open against Japan’s Kurumi Nara. – AFP