Serena Williams may play Australian Open

US tennis star Serena Williams is expected to play in January's Australian Open despite her disgraceful behaviour at the US Open.

Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock is due to hand his recommendation to the Grand Slam committee, which is likely to announce this week what the penalty is for Williams abusing a lineswoman in the US Open semi-final, The Courier Mail reports.

Williams was fined 10,900 Australian dollars for her profanity-laced, finger-pointing outburst at a lineswoman during the semi-final loss to Kim Clijsters in September.

An eventual fine from the ITF could be much greater.

"A significant financial penalty makes much more sense. But it has to be significant enough for the fans (to appreciate) it," the paper quoted Ricci Bitti, as saying.