{"id":23622,"date":"2026-06-23T21:27:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T21:27:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/23622\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T21:27:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T21:27:08","slug":"serenas-return-puts-familiar-force-at-centre-of-wimbledon-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/23622\/","title":{"rendered":"Serena’s return puts familiar force at centre of Wimbledon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Serena<\/p>\n

Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates winning her first round match against Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York, United States, on August 29, 2022. (Reuters)\n<\/p>\n

*\u00a0American\u00a0great\u00a0said\u00a0in\u00a02022\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0evolving\u00a0away\u00a0from\u00a0tennis*\u00a0All\u00a0eyes\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0on\u00a0who\u00a0she\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0drawn\u00a0against\u00a0on\u00a0Friday*\u00a0Playing\u00a0doubles\u00a0with\u00a0sister\u00a0Venus\u00a0as\u00a0well<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

For\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0days,\u00a0the\u00a0recipient\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0final\u00a0Wimbledon\u00a0women’s\u00a0singles\u00a0wildcard\u00a0was\u00a0unknown,\u00a0but\u00a0in\u00a0reality\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0always\u00a0destined\u00a0for\u00a0\u200cAmerican\u00a0great\u00a0Serena\u00a0Williams.<\/p>\n

Once\u00a0the\u00a044-year-old\u00a0let\u00a0it\u00a0be\u00a0known\u00a0she\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0return\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Centre\u00a0Court\u00a0she\u00a0\u200bonce\u00a0owned,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0no-brainer\u00a0for\u00a0\u200cthe\u00a0All\u00a0England\u00a0Club\u00a0committee\u00a0who\u00a0decide\u00a0which\u00a0players\u00a0who\u00a0do\u00a0not\u00a0qualify\u00a0automatically\u00a0receive\u00a0a\u00a0special\u00a0\u200cinvite.<\/p>\n

At\u00a0a\u00a0stroke,\u00a0the\u00a023-time\u00a0\u2060Grand\u00a0Slam\u00a0champion\u00a0has\u00a0become\u00a0the\u00a0\u200cundisputed\u00a0headline\u00a0act\u00a0at\u00a0a\u00a0tournament\u00a0at\u00a0which\u00a0she\u00a0\u200chas\u00a0won\u00a0seven\u00a0singles\u00a0titles\u00a0and\u00a0six\u00a0doubles\u00a0crowns\u00a0with\u00a0sister\u00a0Venus.<\/p>\n

World\u00a0number\u00a0one\u00a0Aryna\u00a0Sabalenka’s\u00a0quest\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0first\u00a0title\u00a0on\u00a0\u2060the\u00a0hallowed\u00a0turf,\u00a0Iga\u00a0Swiatek’s\u00a0defence\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0crown,\u00a0even\u00a0the\u00a0British\u00a0obsession\u00a0with\u00a0Emma\u00a0Raducanu\u00a0will\u00a0all\u00a0take\u00a0a\u00a0back\u00a0seat\u00a0once\u00a0Williams\u00a0strolls\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0gates.<\/p>\n

AURA\u00a0OF\u00a0THE\u00a0AMERICAN<\/p>\n

It\u00a0is\u00a0four\u00a0years\u00a0since\u00a0Williams\u00a0lost\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Wimbledon\u00a0first\u00a0round\u00a0to\u00a0Harmony\u00a0Tan\u00a0and\u00a0weeks\u00a0later\u00a0made\u00a0an\u00a0emotional\u00a0exit\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0U.S.\u00a0Open,\u00a0saying\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0evolving\u00a0away\u00a0from\u00a0tennis.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0game\u00a0has\u00a0moved\u00a0on\u00a0since\u00a0and\u00a0new\u00a0forces\u00a0have\u00a0established\u00a0themselves,\u00a0but\u00a0no\u00a0player\u00a0boasts\u00a0the\u00a0aura\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0American\u00a0whose\u00a0story,\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0of\u00a0Venus,\u00a0who\u00a0she\u00a0will\u00a0team\u00a0up\u00a0with\u00a0in\u00a0doubles,\u00a0has\u00a0transcended\u00a0sport.<\/p>\n

Before\u00a0re-appearing\u00a0at\u00a0Queen’s\u00a0Club\u00a0this\u00a0\u200bmonth,\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0doubles\u00a0alongside\u00a0Victoria\u00a0Mboko,\u00a0Williams\u00a0cited\u00a0a\u00a0desire\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0her\u00a0young\u00a0daughters\u00a0Olympia\u00a0and\u00a0Adira\u00a0watch\u00a0her\u00a0play.<\/p>\n

She\u00a0also\u00a0rightly\u00a0said\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0nothing\u00a0to\u00a0prove.\u00a0But\u00a0no\u00a0one\u00a0should\u00a0be\u00a0in\u00a0any\u00a0doubt\u00a0that\u00a0Williams\u00a0will\u00a0return\u00a0to\u00a0Wimbledon\u00a0believing\u00a0she\u00a0can\u00a0still\u00a0\u200cmix\u00a0it\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0best.<\/p>\n

WIMBLEDON\u00a0DRAW\u00a0ON\u00a0FRIDAY<\/p>\n

When\u00a0\u2060the\u00a0draw\u00a0is\u00a0made\u00a0on\u00a0\u200bFriday\u00a0no\u00a0one\u00a0will\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0Williams\u00a0in\u00a0their\u00a0vicinity.<\/p>\n

Legitimate\u00a0questions\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0asked\u00a0about\u00a0whether\u00a0a\u00a0\u200bsingles\u00a0return\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0step\u00a0too\u00a0far\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0player\u00a0who\u00a0ruled\u00a0the\u00a0women’s\u00a0game\u00a0with\u00a0an\u00a0iron\u00a0grip\u00a0and\u00a0who\u00a0spent\u00a0a\u00a0joint-record\u00a0186\u00a0consecutive\u00a0weeks\u00a0as\u00a0world\u00a0number\u00a0one.<\/p>\n

Looking\u00a0leaner\u00a0than\u00a0in\u00a02022,\u00a0however,\u00a0she\u00a0impressed\u00a0alongside\u00a0Mboko\u00a0at\u00a0Queen’s\u00a0and\u00a0insiders\u00a0say\u00a0she\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0practising\u00a0hard\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0singles\u00a0court\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0Wimbledon\u00a0return\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0being\u00a0planned\u00a0as\u00a0far\u00a0back\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0end\u00a0of\u00a0last\u00a0year.<\/p>\n

Williams\u00a0has\u00a0used\u00a0a\u00a0GLP-1\u00a0weight-loss\u00a0drug\u00a0she\u00a0says\u00a0has\u00a0helped\u00a0her\u00a0shed\u00a034\u00a0pounds\u00a0(15\u00a0kg)\u00a0and\u00a0feel\u00a0“better\u00a0than\u00a0in\u00a0years”.<\/p>\n

While\u00a0that\u00a0has\u00a0started\u00a0a\u00a0debate\u00a0about\u00a0whether\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0performance\u00a0enhancing\u00a0and\u00a0should\u00a0be\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0banned\u00a0list,\u00a0former\u00a0world\u00a0number\u00a0one\u00a0Andy\u00a0Roddick\u00a0said\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0“exactly\u00a0what\u00a0she\u00a0should\u00a0have\u00a0done”.<\/p>\n

“It’s\u00a0avoiding\u00a0injury\u00a0while\u00a0training\u00a0the\u00a0way\u00a0you\u00a0need\u00a0to,”\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0podcast\u00a0Serve.\u00a0“That’s\u00a0easier\u00a0when\u00a0you\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0option\u00a0of\u00a0\u200cbeing\u00a020\u00a0pounds\u00a0lighter,”\u00a0he\u00a0said.<\/p>\n

MOVEMENT\u00a0WILL\u00a0BE\u00a0\u200cKEY,\u00a0RODDICK\u00a0SAYS<\/p>\n

Roddick\u00a0has\u00a0no\u00a0doubt\u00a0that\u00a0her\u00a0weapons\u00a0\u2060still\u00a0remain.<\/p>\n

“Serena\u00a0is\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0serve\u00a0forever,”\u00a0he\u00a0said.\u00a0“I’m\u00a0never\u00a0worried\u00a0about\u00a0Serena\u00a0hitting\u00a0a\u00a0tennis\u00a0ball.\u00a0I’m\u00a0never\u00a0\u2060worried\u00a0about\u00a0her\u00a0being\u00a0powerful,\u00a0I’m\u00a0never\u00a0worried\u00a0about\u00a0her\u00a0\u2060being\u00a0engaged\u00a0when\u00a0she’s\u00a0out\u00a0there.<\/p>\n

“When\u00a0she\u00a0knows\u00a0where\u00a0the\u00a0ball\u00a0is\u00a0going,\u00a0she\u00a0is\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0punish\u00a0that\u00a0ball.\u00a0We\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0the\u00a0movement.\u00a0We\u00a0still\u00a0don’t\u00a0know\u00a0what\u00a0the\u00a0side\u00a0to\u00a0side\u00a0movement\u00a0looks\u00a0like.<\/p>\n

“I’m\u00a0curious\u00a0about\u00a0it\u00a0all.\u00a0I\u00a0think\u00a0she\u00a0can\u00a0go\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0win\u00a0singles\u00a0matches.\u00a0You\u00a0see\u00a0120\u00a0mph\u00a0serves\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0radar\u00a0gun\u00a0(in\u00a0the\u00a0doubles\u00a0at\u00a0Queen’s\u00a0Club)\u00a0and\u00a0you\u00a0left\u00a0that\u00a0match\u00a0thinking\u00a0I\u00a0wanna\u00a0see\u00a0her\u00a0play\u00a0singles.”<\/p>\n

Roddick\u00a0likened\u00a0the\u00a0impact\u00a0Williams\u00a0can\u00a0have\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0psychology\u00a0of\u00a0opponents,\u00a0especially\u00a0\u200binexperienced\u00a0ones,\u00a0merely\u00a0by\u00a0being\u00a0on\u00a0other\u00a0side\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0net\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0“Tiger\u00a0effect”\u00a0—\u00a0referencing\u00a0American\u00a0golf\u00a0great\u00a0Tiger\u00a0Woods.<\/p>\n

Tennis\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0in\u00a0something\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0post\u00a0golden-era\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0likes\u00a0of\u00a0Roger\u00a0Federer,\u00a0Rafa\u00a0Nadal\u00a0and\u00a0Andy\u00a0Murray\u00a0retired,\u00a0and\u00a0with\u00a0Carlos\u00a0Alcaraz\u00a0injured,\u00a0this\u00a0year’s\u00a0Wimbledon\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0danger\u00a0of\u00a0being\u00a0relegated\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0side-show\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0soccer\u00a0World\u00a0Cup.<\/p>\n

BOX\u00a0OFFICE\u00a0RETURN\u00a0TO\u00a0TENNIS<\/p>\n

The\u00a0return,\u00a0therefore,\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0true\u00a0tennis\u00a0titan\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0huge\u00a0boost\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0organisers,\u00a0fans\u00a0and\u00a0TV\u00a0executives\u00a0alike.<\/p>\n

Should\u00a0Williams\u00a0finally\u00a0equal\u00a0Margaret\u00a0Court’s\u00a0record\u00a024\u00a0Grand\u00a0Slam\u00a0singles\u00a0titles,\u00a0nine\u00a0years\u00a0after\u00a0her\u00a0last\u00a0one,\u00a0it\u00a0would\u00a0rival\u00a0any\u00a0sporting\u00a0comeback\u00a0in\u00a0history.<\/p>\n

Whatever\u00a0happens,\u00a0it\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0unmissable.<\/p>\n

“It’s\u00a0pretty\u00a0bold,”\u00a0former\u00a0world\u00a0number\u00a0four\u00a0Mary\u00a0Joe\u00a0Fernandez,\u00a0who\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0commentating\u00a0for\u00a0ESPN,\u00a0said\u00a0this\u00a0\u200cweek.\u00a0“I’m\u00a0excited.\u00a0I’m\u00a0excited\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0\u200bhow\u00a0she’s\u00a0playing,\u00a0how\u00a0she’s\u00a0moving,\u00a0how\u00a0the\u00a0serve\u00a0is\u00a0firing.<\/p>\n

“It’s\u00a0a\u00a0remarkable\u00a0testimony\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0has\u00a0that\u00a0confidence\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0can\u00a0do\u00a0it.\u00a0If\u00a0anybody\u00a0can,\u00a0it’s\u00a0Serena.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Related Story<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Czech<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Jessica<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates winning her first round match against Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic at the U.S.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23623,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[122,463,3071,285],"class_list":["post-23622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-us-open","tag-serena-williams","tag-us-open","tag-wildcard","tag-wimbledon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23622\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}