Serena Williams Contemplates Wimbledon Return
Serena Williams recently shared that she was “not sure” about participating in singles at Wimbledon, admitting she needed to persuade herself to accept a wild card for the event.
Having returned to tennis in doubles this month with her sister Venus, Williams faced a tougher decision when contemplating the final singles wild card, as highlighted by the Associated Press.
“I thought I should really take advantage of this opportunity. You never know if I’ll be back here again. Maybe this is it,” the 44-year-old expressed to reporters on Sunday.
She reflected on her hesitations: “I was like, ‘What’s wrong, Serena? What are you thinking? Are you crazy? You really feel like you should do this?'” She emphasized how athletes often feel compelled to seize such moments. In the end, she concluded, “That’s so cool, I should do it too.”
Despite being a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, Williams made her decision just before Monday’s deadline and noted she was still grappling with uncertainty about returning to singles.
Earlier this month, she had competed with 19-year-old Victoria Mboko in doubles at the Queen’s Club Tournament and faced Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Open.
The Williams sisters last claimed the Wimbledon title in 2016. This year, they will face Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in their opening match. Meanwhile, Serena is set to challenge 20-year-old Maya Joynt on Tuesday.
Addressing her upcoming match, Williams commented, “Yeah, actually, I know her. I’ve seen some of her videos. I’m sure she knows my game.”
She famously indicated in 2022 her intention to step away from tennis—though she refrained from using the term retirement—before returning to the sport this year amidst ongoing speculation about her comeback.
Reflecting on her feelings, she mentioned, “I think it’s going to be nerve-wracking. Every game I played in my life, I was nervous. I think it showed the passion and love and care that I value my job, whether it was the first round, the second round, or the final. I always had some nerves, but then you just brush them off and move on.”
