Serena Williams, Nadal and Murray all confirmed for Australian Open

Melbourne, Dec 5 (AFP) Serena Williams will make her return to the Australian Open for the first time since winning in 2017 when two months pregnant, it was affirmed Wednesday, with basically all the world's top 100 players due at Melbourne Park.

That includes injury-prone Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

Williams returned from giving birth to her first child to reach the 2018 Wimbledon and US Open finals, but suffered upset losses in both to leave her stuck on 23 major wins.

Australian Open organisers said she was among the entries for the opening Grand Slam of the year as she endeavors to square with Margaret Court's record of 24.

Her appearance will stamp her first major since her questionable rage at an umpire amid the US Open last misfortune to Naomi Osaka, which eclipsed the Japanese star's greatest ever win.

In the aftermath, Roger Federer said Williams "went too far".

"Serena Williams, currently ranked 16, will make her highly anticipated return to Melbourne for the first time since winning in 2017 when eight-weeks pregnant with baby Alexis Olympia," said tournament organiser Craig Tiley.

The evergreen Federer will have returned to defend his title, alongside long-time adversary Novak Djokovic. Caroline Wozniacki defends the women's crown.

Organisers said the world's main 102 women and top 101 men have all confirmed they will be playing.

The only top-100 absentee from the ladies' draw is 74th-positioned Agnieszka Radwanska of Polandwho as of late reported her retirement.

"It's constantly special to see our defending champions - Caroline had her first Grand Slam win here a year ago so will be quick to begin 2019 on a high," said Tiley.

"Furthermore, obviously Roger Federer has special memories of Melbourne, having won here multiple times, something just Novak (Djokovic) and Roy Emerson have done previously.

"I've been in touch with Rafa and he has returned to full wellness in the wake of stopping his season after Paris and can hardly wait to touch base in Australia," he included.