Serena Williams plans July return after surgery to remove blood clot

Return planned Serena Williams of the United States is slated to play in July after being sidelined due to a blood clot in her lung. Source: AP

The reigning Wimbledon champion had said after her surgery for a blood clot that travelled from a leg into her lungs that she was hopeful of a US summer return, but was unsure exactly when she might be back on the court.

It was announced Thursday that she will play in Washington on July 7 against the Boston Lobsters and when the Kastles visit Sacramento on July 9.

The former world No.1, a 13-time Grand Slam champion, would need to be ready by June 20 to defend her Wimbledon title.

Williams has not played a top-level match since last year's Wimbledon final after cutting her right foot on broken glass at a restaurant last July.

Williams suffered a pulmonary embolism and underwent an emergency operation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles last week, a health scare she called "the scariest moment in my life".

"Luckily enough, I was able to catch it soon enough that my career won't be affected," Williams told NBC on Wednesday.

"I love tennis and now more than anything I have so much to look forward to just playing.

"I really just want to come back and do well."

Venus Williams, Serena's elder sister and a five-time Wimbledon winner who has seven Grand Slam titles overall, plans to play for the Kastles on July 5 against visiting Kansas City despite being sidelined currently with an injury.

Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open with a right hip injury and has not played since, unable to defend her only titles from 2010 last month at Dubai and Acapulco.