Super Serena Williams to start 2012 in Brisbane

Written by: Global Chick on 13th October 2011

Super Serena Williams to start 2012 in Brisbane

Serena Williams of the US reacts after losing to Samantha Stosur of Australia in the women's final match on the fourteenth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 11 September 2011. The US Open has been extended due to weather for the fourth year in a row and the men's final will now be played on 12 September 2011. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

World No. 14 Serena Williams has only played six tournaments this year. She won Stanford (d. Bartoli), Toronto (d. Stosur) and she was the runner up at the US Open where she lost to Australia’s first time Grand Slam winner Samantha Stosur.

The American has amassed 39 career singles titles and 20 career doubles titles. Williams’ win/loss record to date stands at 496 – 104. She has been the world number one in both singles and doubles.

Serena Williams will join Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters and Sam Stosur at the Brisbane International in 2012. The Brisbane tournament will be the first tournament of the year and part of Williams’ preparation for the Australian Open in Melbourne, a tournament she has won five times.

“It is brand new for me so all that is going to be really exciting and it will help me with my seeding going into the Australian Open too so that would be good,” Serena said. She added, “I’m really excited to see everything, like how people are, you know my fans, I have such a great fan base in Australia, it’s my favourite Slam the Australian Open so I am really looking forward to going to Brisbane.”

Brisbane International’s Tournament Director Cameron Pearson said, “This is the ultimate endorsement of the event. Serena is arguable one of the best female tennis players in history and the fact that she has chosen to play in Brisbane just demonstrates the reputation the event has built with players on the tour. I look forward to welcoming Serena to Brisbane in January.”

The Brisbane International is a combined ATP/WTA Tour Event.