Serena Williams has provoked a huge reaction after it was confirmed she will play singles at Wimbledon this year.
Williams made her comeback at Queen’s earlier this month, playing doubles alongside Victoria Mboko, having not played a match in nearly four years.
The 44-year-old also played doubles with Karolina Muchova in Berlin, and now Williams has received a wildcard to play singles at Wimbledon.
Williams has not played at Wimbledon since 2022, and her former training partner Brad Thyroff has now given his verdict on her comeback.
Brad Thyroff suggests the difficulties Serena Williams may face in singles
Thyroff was the primary training partner for both Serena and Venus Williams during the early stages of their professional careers.
The American spoke to L’Equipe about Williams, with Thyroff admitting that he never imagined her coming back to professional tennis again.
“Serena playing in 2026 is something I couldn’t have imagined,” said Thyroff. “But what I understood very early on about Venus and Serena is that they possess a steely mentality, probably one of the strongest in the history of sport. Their self-confidence propelled them.
“It was this same confidence that allowed Serena to win the US Open at 17, in 1999, beating [Martina] Hingis in the final. Her game may not have been perfect yet, but her mental strength was such that it carried her to that title. At that age, she also had an exceptional physique.
“Today, with age, she may have retained that mentality, but she no longer has the same physique as when she started.”
How many singles matches do you think Serena Williams will win at Wimbledon this year?
One of the big questions surrounding Williams playing singles is her movement, and Thyroff claimed that he thinks it will be difficult for her to win back-to-back matches.
“Her return is a dream for tournament organizers and ticket sales,” said Thyroff. “It’ll be something to see her back on the court… In any case, I fully support her decision.
“It will be difficult for her to string together matches and victories, but if you had asked me if I thought she could win the US Open at 17, I probably would have said no. I was wrong then, and I might still be wrong now.”
Brad Thyroff responds when asked if he thinks Serena Williams’ comeback proves she is the GOAT
Many already consider Williams to be the greatest of all time, and Thyroff was then asked if her returning at 44 years old strengthens the argument of her being the best WTA player in history.
While he did not dismiss this, Thyroff suggested that both Monica Seles and Maureen Connolly should also be in this conversation.
“It proves she still wants it just as much, and that’s exceptional. As for the greatest competitor of all time, I think Monica Seles should also be in the conversation,” said Thyroff. “She won, what, eight Grand Slam titles before she was 20, right?
“Little Mo” [Maureen Connolly] too, nine Grand Slams before she was 20, then a horse riding accident ended her career. Anyway, I’d say Serena is in that discussion, but Seles is too.”
If Serena Williams isn’t the greatest tennis player of all time, then who is and why?
Williams is a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, having won seven Wimbledon titles, but she has not won a major since 2017.
The former world number one will make her return to singles competition at SW19, where the main draw starts on Monday, June 29, with Serena also playing doubles with her older sister Venus at Wimbledon.
