MIAMI:
Serena Williams, a 13-time Grand Slam champion who has not played a WTA event since a fourth-round Australian Open loss earlier this year, will face China’s Zhang Shuai in her first match at the WTA Miami hardcourt event. Five-time Miami winner Williams, the 10th seed on the women’s side of the $9.6 million event played in conjunction with an ATP tournament learned of her opponent after the start of play in the two-week event. However, Zhang rallied to eliminate Britain’s Elena Baltacha 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2 in an opening-round match to book a date with former world number one Williams.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2012.