Serena Williams returns a shot to Romania's Simona Halep during...

Serena Williams returns a shot to Romania's Simona Halep during their match at Wimbledon. (June 23, 2011) Credit: AP

Serena Williams is set to play her first sanctioned match in the United States in two years.

The 29-year-old Williams is playing for the Washington Kastles of World Team Tennis on Thursday night. The 13-time grand slam singles champion, who was sidelined for nearly a full year due to foot injuries and a pulmonary embolism, hasn't played a sanctioned match on U.S. soil since losing to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 U.S. Open semifinals.

Williams returned to the WTA Tour last month. She and her sister Venus, who made her season debut with the Kastles on Tuesday, both lost in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Prior to Thursday's match, Serena Williams participated in a clinic with kids from various youth organizations.

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