Wimbledon: Serena Williams makes singles comeback after four-year retirement
Serena Williams is making a return to singles tennis at Wimbledon after a four-year retirement, accepting the final available wildcard spot. Her comeback has generated considerable discussion, particularly given her age and the time elapsed since her last competitive singles match.
Williams has been actively training at the All England Club, engaging in practice sessions with various players, including Marta Kostyuk, Maria Sakkari, and Jaqueline Cristian. During a practice session on Thursday, Williams reportedly went toe-to-toe with Kostyuk, the world No 13, for over an hour, showcasing her powerful serve.
Williams’ return and motivations
The decision for Williams to return to competitive play has prompted questions regarding her motivations. She has stated that she views this comeback as an opportunity to share her lifelong profession with her children, Olympia and Adira. Olympia was seen accompanying Williams during her practice sessions at Queen’s.
Other potential reasons for her return have been suggested, including her role as a spokesperson for Ro, the company behind the GLP-1 drug Zepbound. The broadcast of her comeback doubles match at Queen’s was sponsored by Ro. Some observers also speculate she might miss the attention associated with being a top tennis player or simply sought to alleviate boredom.
Williams has been a prominent figure at the All England Club this week, a contrast to her past practice habits where she would often train privately and leave the tournament grounds quickly. Her visible presence and engagement with other players indicate a different approach to her return.
Despite her strong serve, concerns have been raised about her movement around the ball and out of the corners, which appeared sluggish in some practice sessions. However, her performance against Kostyuk showed improvement, with Williams striking the ball cleanly and hitting powerful returns.
Challenges and prospects for the tournament
Williams’ return to singles at Wimbledon presents a significant challenge, especially after a four-year break from competitive singles matches. She received a favourable first-round draw against Maya Joint of Australia, a talented young player who is experiencing a difficult period, having lost 13 of her past 14 matches.
Should Williams advance, her first seeded opponent could be Alexandra Eala, the 29th seed. A potential third-round match against the third seed and defending champion, Iga Swiatek, could also be on the horizon.
The current state of the WTA tour adds another layer of intrigue to Williams’ comeback. Top players such as Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff have shown inconsistent form recently. Gauff is not currently ranked in the top four after an early exit at Roland Garros, and Sabalenka is experiencing her worst run of form since becoming world No 1.
Monica Puig, a former Olympic gold medallist, expressed surprise at Williams’ quick return to singles but acknowledged the excitement it brings to tennis. She noted that Williams’ mindset as a champion means she will approach matches with a competitive spirit, not giving opponents an easy time.
Former world No 1 Lindsay Davenport observed that Williams appears to be in excellent physical condition, possibly even better than when she initially stepped away from the sport. However, Davenport remains sceptical that Williams is returning without a desire for strong results, suggesting her mindset has always been to be the best.
Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli highlighted the physical demands of returning to the sport at Williams’ age, especially after two pregnancies. Bartoli noted that playing in front of her children seemed to provide Williams with significant strength, as evidenced by her performance in her first doubles match at Queen’s.
Williams’ serve, which reached an impressive 120mph at Queen’s, is expected to be a crucial weapon on the grass courts of Wimbledon. Puig emphasized that Williams will likely rely on her serve to create free points and navigate the fast-paced, mentally demanding nature of grass-court tennis. Williams will turn 45 in September.
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Source: theguardian.com
As News GB's Senior Football Correspondent, Lewis Hartnell reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on south-coast football for a regional title. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Solent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Lewis lives in Southampton, where he watches youth football and follows the transfer market. “The week's training ground decides the weekend's headlines.”
