Perth: Serena Williams, the leading player in the WTA rankings, will return to the Hopman Cup mixed team event for the first time in seven years, when she teams with Jack Sock on the US squad, the tournament confirmed on Wednesday.
Williams, 33, last played in Western Australia in 2008. Sock, ranked 70th on the ATP, won the Wimbledon doubles title last summer to start making his name.
Williams, with 18 Grand Slam singles titles, will attempt to become the first three-time winner of the pre-Australian Open event, which opens January 4.
“I’m really looking forward to heading back to Perth and the Hopman Cup. It’s been such a long time since I’ve been there. I’ve had a great time there and it’s always been a great warm-up for me,” said Williams, who won the event in 2003 with James Blake and in 2008 with Mardy Fish.
“I love being part of a team because in tennis it’s all about you but at the Hopman Cup there’s an opportunity to be a team, play for your country and try and take everything home.”
Nations rounding out the line-up include defending champions France, with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Alize Cornet attempting to duplicate their 2013 victory.
Number 12 Tsonga will return to Perth for the third time. “I have a really good welcome from everyone at this event. The win last year with Alize was great.”
Poland, the 2013 runner-up, will be represented by Anieszka Radwanska and Jerzy Janowicz while Flavia Pennetta and Fabio Fognini will represent Italy.
Other teams that have confirmed participation are Britain’s Andy Murray and Heather Watson, Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard and Vasek Pospisil for Canada besides hosts Australia, who will be fielding Wimbledon quarter-finalist Nick Kyrgios and Casey Dellacqua.
The field comprises nine current top 20 players, including three top 10 women, and two grand slam champions - Williams and Murray - with 20 titles between them.
