Serena Williams never officially retired from tennis, and so this comeback shouldn’t really come as that big of a surprise.
And yet, if 12 months ago fans were told that she would be playing singles at Wimbledon this year, the reaction would have been one of sheer amusement.
It seemed impossible, and yet, here she is, awarded the final ladies’ singles wildcard, and preparing for her 29th visit to the All England Club.
Expectations will be low for the 23-time Grand Slam champion, who will play her first singles match in four years at Wimbledon.
With that in mind, it’s worth remembering what happened the last time she played in this format at this event.
When Serena Williams lost in the first round of Wimbledon in 2022
Fortunately for Serena Williams, the only way is up when comparing her potential performance at this year’s event to her most recent one back in 2022.
There, she faced Harmony Tan, having endured nearly a year away from the sport following an ankle injury which she picked up at The Championships in 2021, among other ailments.
What do you think Serena Williams needs to do to make her comeback successful?
After a rusty start, where she was immediately broken, she soon found her footing in the match as the pair exchanged breaks before the Frenchwoman narrowly sealed the first set.
Williams was not going down without a fight though, and roared back remarkably to win the second by a commanding 6-1 scoreline.
Many assumed she would now soar to victory, and when she broke to make it 5-4 in her favour, that seemed set to be the case. Alas, she was broken, and the match was to be decided by a tiebreak.
Again the American raced into a healthy lead, 4-0 up and cruising to victory.
However, her opponent, who was ranked 115th in the world and playing in her very first Grand Slam match, inexplicably clawed the scoreline back, with Williams missing a forehand on match point before Tan converted.
Who could Serena Williams play at Wimbledon this year?
Given she has been handed a wildcard for the event, Williams could therefore face any of the other 127 players who will be in the draw.
That could be top seed Aryna Sabalenka, the unseeded Jelena Ostapenko, or even a qualifier. It remains uncertain what would be best for the legendary figure.
After all, to lose to one of the world’s best would be justifiable for anyone. However, to lose to a relatively obscure alternative could be damaging to the ego of such a supreme figure, who will remain an unknown quantity on the singles court until she sets foot on that hallowed turf once again.
How excited are you to watch Serena Williams play on the WTA Tour once again? 🐐
Andy Murray recently spoke about Serena’s comeback, explaining how he cannot relate to the desperation to want to return to the sport.
However, it’s clear that Williams cannot stay away.
The entire tennis world will be hoping that, whoever she is drawn against, she can be competitive enough to put on a show for the Centre Court.
