Serena set for early return

Serena Williams will be returning to the court a little earlier than expected.

Williams, who has not played since January’s Australian Open because of a left knee injury, will play at next week’s Western and Southern Financial Group Women’s Open in Cincinnati, the WTA Tour have announced.

The 24-year-old American had revealed in May she would not play again “until the end of the summer”.

A seven-time Grand Slam champion, the oft-injured Williams began the year ranked 11th in the world but subsequently has slipped to 140th.