MELBOURNE — Serena Williams expects her sister Venus to be back at Melbourne Park next year for a 17th crack at winning the Australian Open, the American world number one said on Wednesday.
Venus, 35, was fined $5,000 for not talking to the media after her surprise first round loss to Britain's Johanna Konta on Tuesday.
Serena, who cruised past Hsieh Su-wei into the third round on day three, said she had been watching television when her sister lost but had no reason to believe it would be the seven-time grand slam champion's Melbourne farewell.
"From what I assume, yeah, but I don't really know," said the defending champion when asked if her sister would be back.