1 week ago
Serena Williams is considering a return to elite tennis connected nan writer courts of Queen’s Club successful London successful 10 days’ time.
The 23-time expansive slam singles champion has been backmost successful nan supplier testing excavation for six months truthful has a greenish ray to make her comeback aged 44.
The Served Podcast, hosted by nan erstwhile world No 1 Andy Roddick and nan seasoned journalist L Jon Wertheim, reported that Williams will activity a doubles wildcard alongside Victoria Mboko, nan 19-year-old Canadian who is classed No 9 successful singles. The 2nd version of nan Queen’s WTA 500 arena originates connected 8 June, a time aft nan French Open ends.
There has been ample speculation astir Williams’s imaginable return and nan garlanded American has been training successful Florida for months. She has been moving pinch Alycia Parks, nan No 79, who posted a video of nan brace hitting together successful March.
Williams has not competed since nan 2022 US Open. Although she was observant not to opportunity she was retiring, Williams appeared connected nan retired players’ database until her return to nan supplier testing excavation past year.
Naomi Osaka, who caught up pinch Williams astatine nan Met Gala earlier this period and is competing astatine nan French Open, was excited astir her idol competing again: “I don’t really attraction astir [the] tennis,” she said. “I deliberation it’s bully for me. I’ll beryllium very entertained. But wide nan scope of it, I deliberation it will bring group to watch tennis, which she ever does bring an assemblage pinch her. So I deliberation it’s good.
“I’m going to beryllium tuned into nan first match, for sure. I consciousness for illustration for maine everyone knows Serena and [her sister] Venus were my domiciled models increasing up, truthful it’s going to beryllium cool to spot her connected nan grounds again.”
Madison Keys, nan world No 5, said: “Serena Williams playing tennis is only bully for tennis. Let’s beryllium real, we each want to watch Serena play tennis. I americium excited. I’m going to cheque immoderate introduction lists occasionally, spot what pops up. But she’s nan GOAT, truthful it would beryllium astonishing if she came back. You virtually get to watch history each azygous clip she takes nan court, truthful why not watch more?”
