Hopman Cup tournament director Paul Kilderry says world No.1 Serena Williams certain to make it to Perth

HOPMAN Cup tournament director Paul Kilderry has assured tennis fans world No.1 Serena Williams has booked her flights to Perth and will take her place in next week’s event at Perth Arena.

With three players having already pulled out of the mixed teams event through injury, Kilderry said the tournament’s headline act would arrive late this week and attend the Hopman Cup ball on Saturday night.

Williams, 33, has her sights set on becoming the first player to win the Hopman Cup three times.

Williams, who will play at Perth Arena for the first time after winning the event twice at Burswood Dome, said recently she was looking forward to returning to the Hopman Cup for the first time in seven years.

They are the only two times the 18-time singles grand slam champion has played at the Hopman Cup, having withdrawn with injury in 2004 before Lindsay Davenport took her place and won the event.