As tennis looks toward Serena Williams returning at the Australian Open, WTA CEO Steve Simon "hopes players will be able to easily function as working mothers while on the tour," according to Billy Freeman of the AAP. Williams gave birth to daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. in September and "pledged to return" in '18 to defend the title she won at Melbourne Park earlier this year. Speaking at the year-end WTA Finals in Singapore, Simon said that the sport needs to make sure it stays "on top of the issue." Simon added, "Serena is not the first high-profile mother that's been a mum on the tour, the most recent past one was obviously Kim Clijsters. I think it's something that's exciting. It should be congratulated. There is room for both." Clijsters won the 2009 and 2010 US Opens as well as the 2011 Australian Open after the arrival of daughter Jada, "putting her in an exclusive club of only three women to win grand slams after having a baby." Simon: "I hope that it becomes an issue that we have to deal with that we have more mums and kids out there, because it's great to see" (AAP, 10/26).
