Serena satisfied with small start to comeback

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Cincinnati (dpa) - Seven-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams will start out small next month when she makes what is billed as a return to tennis at a minor WTA event in the American Midwest.

"I wanted to start off with a smaller tournament," Williams told local media in Cincinnati. "And about a month ago, it became a serious thought to play there.

"It's been really hard not playing. Watching the French Open, it really hurt."

The seven-time Grand Slam champion has not been on court since losing in the third round of the Australian Open to Daniela Hantuchova in January.

Her apparent lack of fitness and weight gain has drawn recent sharp comments as she dropped from sight in sport, instead appearing regularly at Hollywood parties.

"Lately I have been working very hard on making my knee stronger, and that work is progressing well," said Williams. "Barring any setbacks, it is my hope that I will be able to rejoin the WTA at Cincinnati."

Williams said her return is genuine: "I expect to be ready to go out and be able to play. I just can't see that right now that I would pull out."

The event, which begins July 17, one week after the end of Wimbledon, will also feature defending champion Patty Schnyder, 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina, and Hantuchova.