[Wojtek]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Serena Williams is set to begin her 2020 season at the WTA's ASB Classic in Auckland in January.

Organizers of the ASB Classic announced the entry of the 23-time major winner on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old Williams has played the hard-court tournament once, when she lost in the second round in 2017.

On that occasion, Williams' experience of the Auckland tournament was not a happy one. She complained about the wind and cold weather, saying, "it's my least favorite conditions I've ever played in."

Williams announced her engagement to fiancé Alexis Ohanian during her stay in Auckland and told reporters on Tuesday that her memories of the city are "amazing."

"Oh, man, I want to win that title so bad," Williams was quoted as saying. "Last time I was there, I had so much going on, and although I fought through to win my first match, I know I didn't play to my level.

"I have such amazing memories that are really special to me from Auckland. I would really like to add some on-court memories to that list."

 

[Pureracket]

If she wins USO, I'm almost sure she'll be pregnant by Auckland.

 

[MalJackson]

Olympic year, top girls gonna wanna get in as many matches.

Rematch with Brengle!

 

[Sheriff]

Wasn't her last visit there a tad disappointing for locals?
Hope she'll justify the appearance fee this time and whine less about the less-than-perfect weather of Auckland.

 

[goldenlox]

Next tournament after this US Open for Serena. it rains a lot there and usually players who dont lose early have to play twice in one day
If she doesnt win in NY it will be 3 years since her last title when she plays in January 2020, and AO is only major until end of may when Serena is only a few months from 39
Clock is ticking

 

[Sam L]

If she wins USO,

She's not going to win USO or any other slam. :lol: She's welcome to do her farewell tour though. :lol:

 

[Chance]

She's not going to win USO or any other slam. :lol: She's welcome to do her farewell tour though. :lol:

What made you so bitter?

 

[GrumpyCat]

Sorry, don’t see how this is going to happen. I have watched quite a bit of Auckland due to favourable time difference. Most players don’t enjoy it. It’s unpredictable weather with a lot of rain delays, 4 hours of flying to Melbourne and another 2 hours of time difference.

 

[GrumpyCat]

She's not going to win USO or any other slam. <img src="https://www.tennisforum.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Laugh Out Loud" class="inlineimg" /> She's welcome to do her farewell tour though. <img src="https://www.tennisforum.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Laugh Out Loud" class="inlineimg" />

What made you so bitter?

They are stanning for certain “rivals” who are nowhere near the top 50 at the moment

 

[mykarma]

She's not going to win USO or any other slam. She's welcome to do her farewell tour though.

Your fave's record is so bad that she doesn't even deserve a farewell tour, that chick just needs to walk away after the Open.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[kiriosh.]

Hopefully Brengle is also going to play. Maybe this time she could play even uglier than before h:

 

[randyblue]

So if she doesn't with the USO (which is very likely) she'll play next year ?

 

[Pureracket]

She's not going to win USO or any other slam. :lol: She's welcome to do her farewell tour though. :lol:

Do you even have a favorite player?
I only see you in GOAT threads. OMG! I think I just answered my own question. Serena is your favorite player.

 

[Perun]

Serena to play one match, you mean? You mean either losing / tanking R1 or withdrawing for the next one.

 

[TennisFed]

The WTA Rulebook has a Rule that if you qualify for the YEC but don't play you're not allowed to play a Premier-Level Event at the beginning of the upcoming year. That's why Serena was forced to play Auckland in 2017 cuz she qualified for Singapore in 2016 but didn't choose to play.

An US Open Title or Final would almost certainly move Serena towards Shenzhen.

 

[Raiden]

Wasn't her last visit there a tad disappointing for locals?...

And for herself, for that matter?

It makes sense that she will be in Auckland only because that's the remaining pre-AO warmup available to her besides Hobart, given that she will be banned from the bigger AO tune-ups if she skips this year's YEC... which she might given that it doesn't count to her priority chase of Margaret Court's total.

 

[Scrubaball]

What made you so bitter?

He's the bitterest man in the living room.
The bitterest man in the living room.

 

[Racketboi]

Your fave's record is so bad that she doesn't even deserve a farewell tour, that chick just needs to walk away after the Open.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

His fave's career was a farewell show the minute it started.

 

[VeeJJ]

The WTA Rulebook has a Rule that if you qualify for the YEC but don't play you're not allowed to play a Premier-Level Event at the beginning of the upcoming year. That's why Serena was forced to play Auckland in 2017 cuz she qualified for Singapore in 2016 but didn't choose to play.

An US Open Title or Final would almost certainly move Serena towards Shenzhen.

Makes sense. If she does well at the USO i expect she might wanna shut her year down. Leaving the option open.

 

[frjeppe]

These seams very early!