Venus Williams due to end injury exile in British grass tune-up

May 5, 2011, 12:12 GMT

Eastbourne, England - Venus Williams is due to end an injury absence from tennis which will have lasted just under five months after the former number one confirmed her entry into the Eastbourne women's WTA grass-court event in June.

Organizers said on Thursday that the American will feature at the June 11-18 event.

Williams is ranked 16th after failing to play since quitting a third-round match at the Australian Open against German Andrea Petkovic on January 21.

Williams last played at the English south coast town in 1998 and stands 1-2 at the venue. The five-time Wimbledon champion has not played a grass tune-up for years.

While Venus was making a commitment, there is still no word on the competitive fate of her sister Serena, who has not played since winning Wimbledon last summer.

She since has had a series of injuries and a blood clot issue in February but has been seen around party, celebrity and Hollywood circles without fail.

Joining Williams at genteel Devonshire Park will be another dozen of the world top 20, led by French Open champion Francesca Schiavone and 2008 Paris winner Ana Ivanovic. Also playing: China's Australian Open finalist Li Na and Victoria Azarenka of Balarus.

2010 French Open finalist Samantha Stosur will return to try and go two steps farther then her semi-final last summer.

'I had a great run there last year and am hopeful of going even further this year,' said the Australian in a statement.

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