Tennis fans erupt over Serena Williams and Rafa Nadal news after Wimbledon

Tennis fans have erupted with delight after Serena Williams and Rafa Nadal were both named to play in next month's Canadian Open amid speculation about their future in tennis.

Organisers of the WTA 1000 event confirmed Serena's participation on Thursday as the 23-time grand slam champion continues her comeback.

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The 40-year-old ended a 12-month absence from the tour when she played at Wimbledon earlier this month, losing in the first round to Harmony Tan.

It was Serena's first singles match since she was forced to retire hurt in the opening round at Wimbledon in 2021.

The former World No.1 was named in a star-studded field for Canadian Open on Thursday, which will take place from August 6-14.

The event serves as a key lead-up tournament for the US Open - the last grand slam of the year.

Williams is a three-time champion in Canada, reaching the final in her most recent appearance in 2019 before retiring after only four games against Bianca Andreescu because of a back problem.

Williams, who is using her protected ranking to enter the main draw, joins a field which includes 41 of the top 43-ranked players in the world, including two-time French Open champion and World No.1 Iga Swiatek.

Asked after her loss at Wimbledon about her plans for the future, Williams said: "Who knows where I'll pop up?"

Speaking about her hopes of playing at Flushing Meadows, she added: “When you’re at home, especially in New York, and the US Open, that being the first place I’ve won a grand slam, is something that’s always super special.

“There’s definitely lots of motivation to get better and to play at home.”

Williams is still one grand slam title short of equalling Margaret Court's all-time women's record of 24.

The American champion has gone six years without winning a major after claiming her 23rd at the Australian Open in 2017.

Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, and defending US Open champion Emma Raducanu are also in the stacked field for the tournament in Toronto.

Rafa Nadal named in men's field for Canadian Open

The men's tournament, which will take place in Montreal, will see Rafa Nadal make his return after an injury cut short his Wimbledon campaign.

Nadal has won five times in Canada and will be out to equal Ivan Lendl's record of six Canadian Open titles.

The 22-time grand slam champion made the semi-finals at Wimbledon but was forced to withdraw from his scheduled match against Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal tear.

"I think it doesn't make sense to go (on). Even if I tried lot of times during my career to keep going under very tough circumstances, in this one I think it's obvious that if I keep going, the injury going to be worse and worse," he said in a press conference.

Nadal was spotted out on a jet ski off the Spanish island of Formentera just four days after his withdrawal - a sign that the injury wouldn't see him miss significant time.

The 36-year-old appears to be nearing the end of his career and has hinted at retirement a number of times in recent months.

His wife Xisca Pirello is also pregnant with their first child, and Nadal has previously stated that he would stop playing once he starts a family.

The field also includes World No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in addition to World No.1 Daniil Medvedev.

Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic won't be allowed to play in Montreal due to Canada's vaccination requirements.

with agencies

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