Serena Williams has "yet to make a decision" about her participation at the Australian Open, while Svetlana Kuznetsova is "also in doubt" for the first grand slam of '18 after wrist surgery. Williams was "hoping to defend her crown." Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou said, "Serena is getting ready for 2018. She is practicing and getting back in shape. I will be joining her soon in Florida" (STUFF, 11/30).
Premier 15s side Harlequins Ladies announced plans to "attract the biggest attendance to a women's club rugby union match." The club "targeted" its local derby match against Richmond Ladies on March 10 at the Twickenham Stoop to "set a new record." Harlequins head coach Gary Street said, "We want to have thousands of people at the Stoop for a standalone women's game" (BBC, 11/29).
Zimbabwe pulled out of the 2017 Council for East & Central African FAs (CECAFA) Senior Challenge Cup, which starts in Kenya on Sunday, citing "security" concerns. Zimbabwe, along with Libya, had been invited as guests for the regional event that will include Uganda, host Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zanzibar, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Zimbabwe coach Sunday Chidzambwa named a squad but the Zimbabwe FA "felt it was not safe for the team to play in Kenya" (BBC, 11/29).
