Australian Open ‘top of Serena’s mind’, says boss
New mum Serena Williams joins blockbuster line-up of players including Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka
Melbourne — Australian Open organisers said they were hopeful of a stunning return by new mum Serena Williams in January as they raised the winners’ prize money to $3.1m on Tuesday. Injured former world No1s Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, with Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka, are set to be back in action in time for the season’s opening Grand Slam in January. Williams won the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant, and she has spoken of her "outrageous" plans to play in Melbourne in 2018 — just four-and-a-half months after giving birth to her baby girl. Tournament director Craig Tiley said all 100 top men and women had confirmed they intended to play in Melbourne — which includes Williams, who is ranked 24th. He added that the 36-year-old’s mind was firmly fixed on the tournament, which coincidentally has the same initials as her daughter, Alexis Olympia. "Her baby’s initials are AO and she’s suggested she should also have her name on the 2017 trophy, so the AO is well and truly top o...
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