Serena Williams will return to Europe for the 2018 session on the red dirt. Still far from her peak form mostly due to that long inactivity period that included a wedding and giving birth to a child, The American Tennis player is seen as a favorite by many tennis specialists although their arguments might be a bit thin.
Williams made her official comeback earlier this year as she went out to play the Sunshine Double. But there was no room for comeback glory as all she did was to win two matches at Indian Wells while at Miami she suffered a first-round defeat.
Holding a 2-2 record since her comeback, Serena's chances for a solid clay season are still small.
Serena Williams' upcoming schedule
If there's one thing that's clear as the daylight, that should be the understanding of the fact that Serena won't reach a high competitive level soon. But, there's always enough room for wonder or two.
The clay-court swing will put Serena back in a harsh, unfriendly environment as this surface tends to push the players to their limits. For Serena, the start of the 2018 campaign on clay will take place in Madrid, a Premier Mandatory event she won twice in the past (back to back titles in 2012 and 2013).
The second event and the final preparation prior to the French Open should be in Rome, a Premier 5 event she won four times in the past (2002, 2013, 2014 and 2016).
Serena Williams' presence in Rome can be subject to debate as an eventual deep run in Madrid might hinder her schedule.
And, finally, the last stop on the European red clay should be in Paris for the 2018 French Open. The second Grand Slam of the season will bring a conclusion for this segment of the calendar. Moreover, by the end of it, we should have a clearer picture of where the former world No. 1 stands.
What might follow next
If she will keep herself injury free and her game will gain in the consistency department, Serena Williams can breach the top of the WTA circuit in a matter of months. At Wimbledon, she will have a great chance to do so as she would love those condition of play where everything is based upon a fast serve and a strong return game, things that she already masters.
But, to win another Grand Slam things might get a bit trickier than expected and the 2018 US Open could be a realistic target.
By that time, she should be back in the zone, and with huge support from a home crowd, she could get the job done.
As you can see, there are a lot of ''ifs'' and ''maybe'' on this matter, but one thing is crystal clear, Serena Williams needs to start winning matches as an elementary condition to any future goal she has in her mind.
