Serena Williams to launch season at Hopman Cup in Australia
Wednesday 21 October 2015 13:20, UK
Serena Williams is to again launch her season at the Hopman Cup in Australia.
The world No 1 reached the final of the mixed team event earlier this year with American compatriot John Isner to kick off a superb season where she won the Australian and French Opens and Wimbledon to take her Grand Slam singles haul to 21.
This year she will partner Jack Sock in an event she won in 2003 with James Blake and in 2008 with Mardy Fish.
"Perth definitely started something quite amazing so I think it's only natural and fair and reasonable that I go back to Perth," she said. "We were so close to winning last year. I'm really excited to be back."
Williams, 34, believes the Hopman Cup is excellent preparation for the Australian Open.
"In 2016 I want to play doubles in Australia so it will be really exciting for me to get there, play some doubles and get some little experience at the Hopman Cup," she added.
Williams has not played since her shock semi-final defeat to Italian Roberto Vinci at the US Open last month, which ended her bid for a rare calendar Grand Slam.
She pulled out of two events in China earlier this month, as well as next week's WTA Finals in Singapore, citing the need to rest after a year spent carrying injuries.
