World # 1 Serena And Venus Williams Both Wildcards Going Into Dubai

Written by: Staff on 13th February 2014

World # 1 Serena And Venus Williams Both Wildcards Going Into Dubai

epa04029856 Serena Williams of the US returns to Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during their fourth round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2014. Ivanovic won the match. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON |

Serena Williams has been granted a wild card into next week’s Dubai event in a surprise move for the world Number 1 who had given every impression that she would not be playing again until Miami in late March.

The American joins her sister Venus is taking a free entry into the WTA competition starting on Monday. Organiser announced that the younger Williams would join the field as top seed. Her main rival looks to be Australian Open champions Li Na as WTA No. 2 Victoria Azarenka is out with injury.

Serena had announced in grand style that she was withdrawing from this week’s Doha tournament and would not play Indian Wells, upholding a boycott of that Californian event going into its 13th years. In the meantime, officials in the emirate awarded Venus Williams a wild card entry.

With both sisters in the field officials can at least be assured of respectable crowds at the Aviation club. The field now features seven of the ranking top 10. Serena Williams has never won the title, reaching a pair of semi-finals in 2005 and 2009; she retired last year before making her start.

Topics: 10sballs, Dubai, Li Na, Serena Williams, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Venus Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Wta