SERENA WILLIAMS TO MAKE PLAYING COMEBACK IN ABU DHABI AT MUBADALA WORLD TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

Serena Williams will make her playing comeback following the birth of her daughter at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, on December 30.

Williams has not played since winning the Australian Open in January, while she was six weeks pregnant, but will return to court to play French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko next Saturday.

The 36-year-old, who gave birth to Alexis Jr in September, is planning to make a competitive return at the Australian Open next month.

I am delighted to be returning to the court in Abu Dhabi for the first time since the birth of my daughter in September," Williams told the tournament's official website.

"The Mubadala World Tennis Championship has long marked the beginning of the men's global tennis season and I am excited and honoured to be making my comeback as part of the first women to participate in the event.

"I look forward to seeing the fans in Abu Dhabi at the 10th Edition of the Championship very soon."

Men's world No 1 Rafael Nadal was also supposed to play in the event but withdrew due to ongoing troubles with his knee.

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