Williams in warning as she returns to the court

SERENA WILLIAMS was coy about her chances of defending her Australian Open title next month, as she returned to action yesterday just four months after giving month to a baby girl.

The former world No1 lost on her return to competitive tennis, against French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in an exhibition match in the United Arab Emirates.

The 36-year-old struggled with her serve and understandably wasn’t moving around the court as freely as she once did, but she still took the second set off Ostapenko 6-3 having lost the first 2-6. She then lost 10-5 in a super tie-breaker.

Williams, the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, said after the 67-minute match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship that she is still undecided on her title defence of the Australian Open, which starts on January 15, but delivered a warning to her rivals.

‘I don’t know if I am totally ready to come back on the tour yet,’ said Williams, who has been off court since winning the Australian Open last January while pregnant. She gave birth to daughter Olympia on September 1.

‘I know that when I come back I definitely want to be competing for championships. I am definitely looking forward to getting back out there.’

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic’s participation in the Australian Open is in doubt after he withdrew from the Qatar Open yesterday, saying he still has pain in his right elbow.

Andy Murray came through a one-set exhibition match against Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday and continues his comeback at the Brisbane Open, where he takes on either Ryan Harrison or Leonardo Mayer in round two.