Sydney, Dec 1 (DPA) With her US Open outburst now settled by a massive fine and a stern warning, Serena Williams has been able to confirm she will begin the 2010 season as scheduled at the Medibank International in Sydney.
The number one was handed a record 175,000-dollar sanction by international authorities Monday and put on probation after threatening a lineswoman at the US Open.

“I really enjoyed my time in Sydney this year and I am really looking forward to being back there in just a few weeks time,” she said in a statement.

Williams is now free to tune up for an Australian Open title defence later in the month after her return to Sydney, which begins Jan 10.

Williams headlines a women’s field that includes Svetlana Kuznetsova, Caroline Wozniacki, Elena Dementieva, Victoria Azarenka and Australian Samantha Stosur.

Number 13 Gael Monfils, Lleyton Hewitt, Marcos Baghdatis and Tomas Berdych are also confirmed for the men’s draw.