"I think she'll be ready for Roland Garros. The competitions she will play until then will help her and every day she progresses on her fitness"
Monday 5 March 2018 18:11, UK
Multiple Grand Slam winner Serena Williams should be match fit and ready in time for the French Open in May, according to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Williams is preparing to make her much anticipated comeback to the WTA Tour following the birth of her first child in September.
The 36-year-old, who won her 23rd Grand Slam title at last year's Australian Open before going on maternity leave, pulled out of this year's tournament in Melbourne.
She represented the United States in a Fed Cup doubles match alongside her sister Venus last month and is scheduled to take part in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells this week.
But her coach Mouratoglou believes former world No 1 Williams requires time to adjust to the rigours of the sport again after such a long time away from the tour, which represents the biggest test of her career.
"Now she is 36, just had a child, a second blood clot, has gone more than a year without any competition. I think we can say without a doubt that this is her biggest challenge," Mouratoglou told the official WTA website.
"I think she'll be ready for Roland Garros. The competitions she will play until then will help her and every day she progresses on her fitness.
"Serena's target will be to win grand slams. She knows that coming back might take some time, but her level of expectation is high as always. There are three grand slams left this season. They will be her three main goals for 2018."
You can watch the ATP Masters 1000 tournament from Indian Wells with coverage getting underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Action and via the red button on the same channel this Thursday. You can also watch it from 10.30pm on Sky Sports Main Event.
Keep up to date with the latest on www.skysports.com/tennis with news, previews, live blogs, reports and expert analysis. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation.
