Serena Williams says she will play in this year’s US Open tennis tournament.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion announced her intentions in a taped video message revealed Wednesday by the USTA.
“I really cannot wait to return in New York and play the US Open 2020,” said Williams, 38. “I feel like the USTA is going to do a really good job of ensuring everything is amazing and everything is perfect and everyone is safe. It’s going to be exciting. It’s been over six months since a lot of us have played professional tennis.
“I’ll certainly miss the fans, don’t get me wrong, just being out there and that New York crowd and hearing everyone cheer,” the six-time US Open champion said. “I’ll really miss that getting me through some of those tough matches. This is crazy. I’m excited.”
The US Open will be held in New York from Aug. 31 through Sept. 13 and would be the first tennis major played since the coronavirus pandemic suspended the sport in March.
Also Wednesday, organizers of the French Open confirmed the dates for the Paris tournament will run Sept. 21 through Oct. 11.
Wimbledon was previously canceled by the pandemic, the first time that has happened since World War II in 1945.
