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Serena Williams stunned the tennis world on Sunday as the 44-year-old tennis legend returns to Wimbledon after accepting a wildcard.
Williams claimed the final women’s singles spot, which had a gap after an earlier announcement on Tuesday.
She had already been given a wild card to compete with her sister, Venus Williams, in Wimbledon’s doubles competition. However, she noted that she would consider returning to singles earlier this month.
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Serena Williams reacts after a point against Danka Kovinic on day one of the 2022 US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY on August 29, 2022. (Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports)
“You think I’m ready for singles? I’ve got to get to work,” Serena said at SW19, according to Yahoo Sports.
Serena has won the women’s singles at Wimbledon seven times in her illustrious career, but there is still something she can chase: Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam victories. Serena is sitting on 23 years for her career.
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It was in 2019 the last time Serena won a women’s singles match, and it came at Wimbledon against Simona Halep of Romania. She has played just two doubles matches since returning to competition after a four-year layoff.
Serena’s career accolades outlast a CVS receipt, winning every Grand Slam – Australian Open, French Open and US Open included – at least three times. And together with her sister, Serena has accomplished the career “Golden Slam” in singles and doubles.
Serena Williams arrives on the red carpet along the Seine before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games on July 26, 2024. (James Lang/USA TODAY Sports)
She is the most recognizable female player in the sport today, and fans from around the world are sure to tune in to see how far she can go in this year’s tournament.
At Wimbledon in 2022, Serena said she did not know if it would be her last appearance at the tournament.
“Who knows where I’ll show up?” Serena, who also had a wild card for this Wimbledon, said at the time.
Serena Williams of the United States gestures to the crowd after a match against Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia on day five of the 2022 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, NY on September 2, 2022. (Danielle Parhizkaran/USA TODAY Sports)
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She has always loved playing on grass and won 107 of her 123 singles matches on the surface, which bodes well for her comeback.
Serena will find out who she will face in the first round this Friday as the tournament begins on June 29.
