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MELBOURNE, Australia — Serena Williams dressed for work on Tuesday as though she were intent on reminding people who she was before she became a wife and mother.
The last time Williams graced Rod Laver Arena, in 2017, she dispatched her older sister Venus in the Australian Open women’s final while in the early stages of her pregnancy. She was unable to defend her title last year because she wasn’t ready to return to the tour after a harrowing medical ordeal during and after childbirth.
In her return, 717 days later, Williams warmed up for her first-round match against Tatjana Maria wearing a short black trench coat.