Serena targeting Australian Open return

Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou has revealed she is aiming to return for the Australian Open in 2018.

The 35-year-old is pregnant with her first child, due in September.

“For anyone, it sounds impossible, because it’s too short a time after you give birth,” he said.

“But Serena is Serena. There is no rule that you can apply to Serena. She has a body that is not anybody’s body. She has a will that is also completely unusual. She is one of a kind.”

The six-month pregnant Williams has not played since winning an Open era-record 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in January, yet according to Mouratoglou is still training.

He said Serena recently texted him “and she said: ‘It’s going to sound weird, but I’m going on the court. I don’t want to lose my touch’.”

The world No.2 has not revealed the gender of her unborn child – but older sister Venus may have let it slip in a press conference after a second round win at the French Open last night.

“She’s going to call me ‘favorite aunt’,” Venus told reporters when asked what she wanted Serena’s child to call her.

The 10th-seeded Venus was in a good mood after a 6-3 6-1 win over Japan’s Kurumi Nara, even singing in a post-match television interview with Mouratoglou:

Say my name, say my name…????????#RG17 #EurosportTENNIS pic.twitter.com/B1hT0K52hA

— Eurosport IT (@Eurosport_IT) May 31, 2017

Serena, a finalist in Paris last year, was in the stands at Court Philippe-Chatrier to support her sister.

“I’m sure she feels the excitement of being at a major and not having the pressure to play and prepare. Must be an interesting feeling, to say the least,” Venus said.