Serena Williams will make her first singles appearance on the WTA Tour since the Australian Open in 2017 in the opening round at Indian Wells on Thursday.
The 23-time grand slam singles winner gave birth to daughter Olympia on September 1 and has been working her way back to fitness.
The 36-year-old was back in action alongside her sister Venus Williams in a doubles match at the Fed Cup on February 11.
Two-time champion Serena Williams set to face Zarina Diyas in the first round of the #BNPPO18 in her first match since winning the Australian Open last year and giving birth to daughter Olympia
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 5, 2018
However, her long-awaited return to singles action will come against Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan in California later this week.
The BNP Paribas Open’s official Twitter account said: “Two-time champion Serena Williams set to face Zarina Diyas in the first round of the #BNPPO18 in her first match since winning the Australian Open last year and giving birth to daughter Olympia.”
Victoria Azarenka, who has not played since Wimbledon in 2017, will also be back on court against Great Britain’s Heather Watson.
