LONDON – Tennis fans are buzzing with excitement as Serena Williams prepares to return to the Wimbledon courts for her first singles match in nearly four years. At 44 years old, Williams has accepted a wild-card entry to the prestigious grass-court Grand Slam event.
The draw for the first round will take place on Friday, and anticipation is building over who Williams will face. Notably, she will also partner with her older sister, Venus, in the doubles competition, marking an inspiring sibling reunion on the tennis stage.
Williams’ comeback journey began with two doubles warmup matches, but the announcement from the All England Club about her participation in singles has ramped up excitement. Because she currently holds no ranking, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion could potentially face a formidable opponent, including defending champion Iga Swiatek or the top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
Her last singles appearance dates back to the 2022 U.S. Open, where she suffered a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic. At that moment, Williams expressed her desire to “evolve” away from tennis rather than retire, coinciding with the birth of her second daughter in 2023.
The last time Williams graced Wimbledon was also in 2022, where she faced an unexpected defeat in the first round against Harmony Tan, who was ranked 115th at the time. This time, the stakes are high, and the draw could lead to thrilling matchups.
In the men’s draw, the top-seeded player is defending champion Jannik Sinner, while Aryna Sabalenka leads the women’s seeding. Wimbledon’s seedings align with the ATP and WTA rankings, showcasing the competitive landscape of this year’s tournament.
Notably, seven-time champion Novak Djokovic is positioned as the No. 7 seed. However, the absence of two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz, due to a wrist injury, adds another layer of intrigue to the proceedings.
Wimbledon is set to commence on Monday, and the anticipation surrounding Serena Williams’ return is palpable, reminding fans of her profound impact on the sport and the legacy she continues to build.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
