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SPORTS Saturday 10 February 2018

Serena Williams returns, Fed Cup 'start of a long process'

By STEVE MEGARGEE Open.
AP Sports Writer Williams said Friday she's
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Ten- unsure about how she will
nis fans anxiously awaiting manage her schedule
Serena Williams' return to and whether she will play
competitive tennis will have all three remaining Grand
to wait one more day. Slam events this year. Wil-
Williams won't be playing liams' 23 Grand Slam singles
in either of Saturday's Fed titles put her one behind
Cup singles matches as she the record held by Marga-
makes her comeback five ret Court.
months after becoming a "I have long-term goals ob-
mother. Williams teams up viously, but right now my
with Lauren Davis to face main goal is just to stay in
Lesley Kerkhove and Demi the moment," Williams said.
Schuurs of the Netherlands "It goes unsaid (that) 25 is
in Sunday's doubles match. obviously something that I
"It's definitely the start of a would love, but I'd hate to
long process," Williams said. limit myself."
"Physically, I feel good. Ev- Williams' daughter, Alexis
ery day, I get better and Olympia Ohanian Jr., was
I get stronger. That's just born Sept. 1. Williams who
something I always keep is married to Reddit co-
telling myself every day, I founder Alexis Ohanian,
have to get better." said motherhood is "an In this Jan. 28, 2017, file photo, Serena Williams makes a backhand return to her sister Venus dur-
Williams, 36, hasn't played amazing journey." ing the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia.
an official match since win- "It's probably been the most Associated Press
ning the 2017 Australian fun of my life," she said. "It's
Open. Williams later re- a totally new experience. just very youthful and child- Fed Cup and easing her it allow her to practice
vealed she was pregnant I love motherhood, and I like at heart. I think some- way back with exhibitions. alongside a few different
during that tournament. look forward to just being times motherhood chang- Maybe she wants to peak players, it also enables her
Although Williams isn't the best mom I can be." es people in a way that for Wimbledon, that would coach and teammates to
scheduled to play any Williams said she has ben- they become less young be her best chance at a offer different perspectives
singles matches this week- efited from having her sister and more serious, but that Grand Slam." on her progress.
end, that could change. alongside her as she at- hasn't affected her." Williams said the Fed Cup "It actually is a really perfect
U.S. captain Kathy Rinaldi tempts this comeback. Serena Williams acknowl- represents an ideal setting opportunity to try to come
has the right to change her "She's been really, really edged there have been for her return. Not only does back," Williams said.q
Sunday lineup after Satur- positive," Williams said. "a lot of ups and downs" in
day's play. "There (are) moments that her comeback as she men-
"We'll wait and see how to- have just been hard, just tioned "fighting against all
morrow goes and then we'll getting back out there and odds to be out there and to
make our adjustments, if doing it every day. You be competing again."
any," Rinaldi said Friday. have to get used to that She mentioned there are
The U.S. will have Venus Wil- and get in the rhythm of "moments that have just
liams take on Arantxa Rus that. I've been able to re- been hard, getting back
and CoCo Vandeweghe ally rely on her for that." out there doing it every
will face Richel Hogerkamp Venus Williams has been day." Williams had told
on Saturday as it opens its impressed with her younger Vogue magazine that she
Fed Cup title defense. Sun- sister's parenting skills. developed several small
day's scheduled singles "I think she's the best mother blood clots in her lungs af-
matches have Venus Wil- I ever saw," Venus Williams ter her daughter was born.
liams facing Hogerkamp said. "She's amazing. She Williams had opted against
and Vandeweghe taking does everything herself." trying to defend her Austra-
on Rus. Venus Williams was asked lian Open title this year.
But this weekend's headline how motherhood had "I think she's smart to take
is the return of Serena Wil- changed her sister. her time and not to play
liams, who participated in "She might go out a little Australia," ESPN analyst and
a Dec. 30 exhibition match less," Venus said before 18-time Grand Slam sin-
but otherwise hasn't played breaking into a grin. "But gles champion Chris Evert
since that 2017 Australian she's definitely remained said last week. "Playing