Serena Williams announced as wild card entrant for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

After her sister Venus was announced as a wild card earlier this week, Dubai Tennis Championship organisers announced on Wednesday that Serena, too, would be at the tournament.

Serena Williams was knocked out in the fourth round at the Australian Open in January. Al Bello / Getty Images / AFP
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Days after her sister Venus was announced as a wild card entrant, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships organisers announced on Wednesday Serena Williams would be joining the fray, as well.

Serena, too, was granted a wild card entry into the tournament, beginning on Monday. Williams has participated three previous times in Dubai, though she hasn’t won the event.

“There is no greater player in the world today than Serena Williams, and although she has now reached an age when many players would be thinking of retiring her career is still going from strength to strength,” said Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman of Dubai Duty Free, in a press release.

Williams first played Dubai in 2005. In 2009, she lost in the semi-finals to her sister.

At last month’s Australian Open, she advanced to the fourth round despite battling an injury before falling to Ana Ivanovic, who is also slated to play in Dubai.

The field for the women’s event now includes four former world No 1s. Serena joins notables Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Caroline Wozniacki, Simona Halep, Sara Errani, Angelique Kerber and Jelena Jankovic, among others.