Serena Williams is taking a realistic approach toward her busy return to Wimbledon, which will include her first singles match in nearly four years.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion in singles began her comeback with doubles matches earlier this month at the HSBC Championships in London and the Berlin Tennis Open.
She also will play doubles with sister Venus Williams at Wimbledon, while accepting a wild-card entry to play singles. The 44-year-old Serena Williams is set to open singles play Tuesday against 20-year-old Maya Joint from Australia.
“In general, my expectations are definitely different for the first time in my career,” Serena Williams said Sunday. “Not that I never enjoyed it before because I wouldn’t be here today, but I’m gonna enjoy being out there.”
Williams’ last singles match came at the 2022 U.S. Open when she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round. A retirement celebration included A-list celebrities at her final matches and a tribute video narrated by Oprah Winfrey.
“When I evolved, I never thought I would come back,” Williams said.
A singles comeback on the grass courts at Wimbledon seems appropriate. She claimed singles titles at the All England Club in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016.
The Williams sisters also produced six doubles titles at Wimbledon in 2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2016.
If Williams defeats Joint in singles, she could face No. 29 seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in the second round and defending champion and No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek of Poland in the third round.
“I expect to be nervous,” Williams said. “I was also nervous every single match that I’ve ever played in my life. And I think that showed the passion and the love and the care that I cared about my job, whether it was the first round or the second round or the finals.
“I’ve always had some nerves, but then I just dust them off and then I move on. So I definitely expect to have those same feelings.”
The top four seeds in the women’s draw are No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, Swiatek and No. 4 Jessica Pegula, the top-seeded American.
“I thought I should really take this opportunity,” Williams said. “… I have this great opportunity to showcase what I do best, I suppose. I think ultimately I was like, that is pretty cool, so I should do it.”
–Field Level Media
