Serena Williams shows encouraging signs of recovery

Serena needs to be back at her best (©GettyImages).

Just a few weeks on from a shocking Wimbledon capitulation, Serena Williams has returned to social networking (always a good sign) - and she looks better than ever.

Strange summer

A strange illness mixed with rumours of personal issues and poor form converged to brew a far-from-perfect storm at SW19. Serena is a legend on the London grass courts, but her early singles exit and illness-related dramatic doubles loss with sister Venus certainly didn't paint the world no.1 is the best light.

Unable to pick up the ball, and a service game that would be more befitting of a child; it was a strange and certainly uncomfortable watch.

Recovery

However, the greatest players across many different sports have blips and suffer illnesses - and while she seems invincible - Serena is no different.

What is encouraging now is that the 32-year-old appears to be back on her feet. Professional careers in sport are short, therefore a competitive Serena can only be a great thing for tennis.

A split with her coach was on the cards, but as those fears were dispelled by the man himself - Serena has come out of her shell and looks to be ready for the hard court season in North America and the US Open in particular.

Training again

She posted on Instagram a picture of her amazingly toned body in a training outfit with a racquet in-hand. Williams asks her coach to be ready, and it seems as though her competitors better be ready too.

The break which the 17-time Grand Slam champion has broadcast to her fans will allow, the American to make up some ground on her rivals.

US Open Rivals: watch out

A disappointing 2014 has allowed the likes of Maria Sharapova, Eugenie Bouchard and Petra Kvitova to make up some ground going into New York, and Serena will not want to lose on home ground.

The Michigan-born star, who resides in Flordia, has a rich history at Flushing Meadows since her 1999 win as a youngster. Williams has gone on to win four more times in America and another would make this her most successful major. 

Serena is targeting a third consecutive title on the hard courts, but her defence will need to be better than it was at the French Open. At Roland Garros, she crumbled to the unseeded Gabrine Muguruza.

With Venus nearing retirement, tennis really needs a Williams sister on top form. Their reign has been nothing short of legendary. All good things must come to an end, but nobody wants to see it end just yet.