Thirteen-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams plans to return to competition at next week’s Eastbourne tournament after nearly a year out with injuries in hopes of defending her Wimbledon title, the New York Times reported on its website Monday.
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I have so much to be grateful for. I’m thankful to my family, friends, and fans for all of their support. Serena’s back!
”
– Serena Williams
Williams, 29, hasn’t competed since last July, sidelined by two foot operations and blood clots in her lung. She returned to practice in April and said then she aimed to be back on tour this summer.
“I am so excited to be healthy enough to compete again,” she said in a statement released by her agent. “These past 12 months have been extremely tough and character building.
“I have so much to be grateful for. I’m thankful to my family, friends, and fans for all of their support. Serena’s back!”
Shortly after winning her fourth singles championship at Wimbledon last summer, she cut her foot on glass at a restaurant in Germany, an injury that led to two operations. The second surgery was in October, and she said she spent 10 weeks in a cast and 10 weeks in a walking boot.
The 29-year-old American was diagnosed in February with blood clots in her lung. After that, she said she needed treatment for a hematoma — a gathering of blood under the skin — on her stomach.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
