It was only yesterday that Serena Williams played her first singles match in nearly four years, and already many are wondering whether we will ever see her feature in this format again.
After all, despite how spirited her performance was, it was, ultimately, a loss to a player who was not in good form.
Maya Joint was enduring an 11-match losing streak at the WTA Tour level, yet snapped it against the 23-time Grand Slam champion in dramatic fashion.
This has led some to question her wildcard credentials, whilst others defend her inclusion because of her competitiveness as well as her undeniable star power.
What did you make of Serena Williams’ level on her return to singles?
Serena Williams is OUT of the Wimbledon singles event…
It does feel like all roads for Serena Williams, whether it be singles or doubles, lead towards the US Open.
Andy Roddick, speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, has now weighed in on whether he thinks we’ll ever see the 44-year-old play a singles match again.
Andy Roddick makes Serena Williams prediction after her loss at Wimbledon
Regardless of any prior feelings about Williams, it was inarguably a spectacle to see her back on court competing again at the highest level.
It is for that reason that so many have been left wanting more, having seen enough to believe that she could be competitive with more time.
Roddick’s comments will certainly only stoke those flames, as he argued: “All that I am hearing is that it was not her plan to play singles here. I thought it could have been. But from what I’m hearing from Wozniacki, they were texting last week saying ‘what do you think?’ I don’t know that she was sure two weeks ago.”
He then made his prediction: “I think we will see her again on a singles court, for sure. I think Serena leaving this match is going, I almost won a match, and there is a lot I can improve on.
“I think at the two-hour mark her legs gave out. The serve started missing by five feet; you can’t create the spin mechanism to bring it down. But there were flashes. Instead of three points in a row, it was two points in a row and then an error.
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“Credit to Maya Joint, I thought she played really well considering the circumstances and someone carrying a massive losing streak at Tour level into the event. I thought she did well.
“If I know Serena at all. She is p—— and she is going, I think I can still beat these people. I think we will see her in the US Open in singles.”
This comes after Serena Williams was criticised for missing her press conference following this defeat.
The Wimbledon achievement that only Serena Williams has managed in the last decade
Despite her absence from the sport, Williams’ stature has not diminished at all.
In fact, such was her overwhelming dominance over the WTA Tour, her achievements have arguably only become more impressive, particularly those related to Wimbledon.
This major has historically been one of the more unpredictable of the four in the women’s game, with the grass clearly providing the necessary conditions for so many new winners.
That would explain why we have not had a champion defend her title since Williams did so in 2016, beating Angelique Kerber in the final just a year after she had beaten Garbiñe Muguruza at that same stage.
We have therefore had a new champion every year since, and Iga Swiatek will hope to buck that trend as this year’s title-holder.
