On Tuesday, Serena Williams will return to singles competition for the first time in nearly four years. And later this week she will play doubles with her sister Venus. Although Serena is a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion and six-time doubles champion, she has only played in two doubles matches since announcing her return to the sport on June 1.
So what can we expect this week? Our experts give their assessment.
What do you think of Williams’ matches so far?
Chris Eubanks: I’ve liked what I’ve seen from her so far. Coming back with the take, it was hard to know what to expect. But early on in her comeback, it became abundantly clear that the ball striking was still there and her serve spots were also very accurate. After almost four years, for her to come back and keep those two things intact was a promising sign.
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D’Arcy Man: Well, to be honest, I wish we had more opportunities – and I’m sure Williams does too – but she had a good start after being away for so long. Her first match at Queen’s Club alongside Victoria Mboko was promising and there were moments when it seemed like she didn’t miss a beat. Her hitting was as powerful as ever and some of her serves were truly a sight to behold. At times she found it difficult to move, but I thought and think it will improve. Like everyone else, I would have liked to have seen more from this duo before Mboko’s incredibly unfortunate singles injury forced them to pull out.
Her match with Karolina Muchova in Berlin was not as impressive, but since she played on the left wing, although she almost always played on the right, and even though Muchova said that their chemistry was not quite what it should have been, it is difficult to properly assess it. Williams said she felt “more agile, stronger and faster” than at the Queen’s Club. So, at the very least, it’s clear that she’s getting more confident and comfortable as she goes along – and that’s a good sign.
Bill Connelly: Pitch and swing will never go away. But this, of course, was not the main problem. Before her (first) retirement, her movement and footwork were major issues, and while those things were quite sufficient in doubles matches, we don’t learn what we need to know until her first match. All reports from practice courts have been positive, but we have yet to see that.
Simon Cumbers: I thought her first performance at Queen’s was quite decent, although that was partly due to Mboko being particularly impressive. After a slow start, Williams served well, picking up the pace, and once the ball was in her wheelhouse, she showed she could still play at a very high level. It’s clear that she was rusty, and when she played Muchova in Berlin she looked a little less comfortable, and the partnership didn’t work out either.
Serena Williams will return to Wimbledon for the first time in four years. Khalil Saghirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images
Did anything surprise you?
Eubanks: Honestly, yes. I thought the quality of her groundstrokes surprised me so early, especially on the grass. On a slow hard court it is a little easier to find the time. But on grass it can be difficult. She looked like she didn’t miss a beat, which was surprising, of course, because she quickly found the right moment.
Women’s Wimbledon odds
Maine: Somehow, Williams’ return to the tennis court seems both shocking, even surreal, and at the same time completely predictable. In 2022, she’s been vague at times about her future return, but there’s still something incredible about seeing Williams, 44, playing competitively again simply because she loves the game. While she’s obviously no longer at the peak of her dominance, seeing the aura she continues to have and the impact of her mere presence – more than 30 years after her professional debut – is incredible.
She doesn’t need tennis and seems to be doing just fine both personally and financially without it, but it was interesting to see how much the sport needs her and how much she still loves it.
Connelly: Honestly, I shouldn’t have been surprised to see that she could still score 120 points on her serve, but damn it was nice to watch.
Chambers: Her hitting of the ball has always been incredible, but after four years away she got into her rhythm pretty quickly. I wasn’t surprised that her serve—the best ever—remains a formidable weapon, although I was impressed by how quickly she increased her power. Her movement is a key area and I found it a little short, which again isn’t surprising considering she’s 44 and last played in 2022. Her intensity was good. She still has an impressive online presence.
A fan puts on Serena Williams glasses at Wimbledon. Environment Agency/ADAM VAUGHAN
How do you predict she will do well at Wimbledon?
Eubanks: I think she has a great draw and a great opportunity. Her first match against Maia Joynt will tell us a lot about where she is physically and it will be great to see how she deals with the nerves. I think she has a very good chance of reaching the third round. And if she gets into the game and continues to build confidence, be careful.
Maine: Of course, she hasn’t played a singles match in almost four years, but this That We’re talking about Serena Williams. And with her playing for the Joint – a 20-year-old in just her second main draw at the All England Club – in her first match, a victory with the support of the fans seems more than likely. However, it will become much more difficult for her further. Alexandra Ela, the fan favorite and No. 29 seed who just defeated former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina en route to the semi-finals in Berlin, could wait in the second round, while Iga Swiatek, the No. 3 seed and defending champion, would be her likely opponent in the third round. Swiatek hasn’t been at his best lately, but it still seems unlikely that the rusty Williams will have enough power to pass her.
Men’s Wimbledon odds
But of course it’s Serena Williams. You never know.
Her path in doubles alongside Venus isn’t much easier, but would anyone be surprised if they found some of their signature sisterly magic and won a match or even two?
Connelly: It’s hard to say without seeing her moves, but if she can play at, say, a top-50 level, her draw is pretty friendly. Joynt is a good striker but has won just one match on tour since January and now needs to gain confidence to take on the seven-time Wimbledon champion on Center Court. And the thought of her potentially taking on a player as passionate and exciting as Ila in the second round is exciting. One would think her run would peak in the third round against Swiatek no matter what, but she doesn’t have to play at a top-10 level to even win a match or two.
Chambers: I’ll add a disclaimer: she’s Serena Williams, so anything is possible. But I’m a little afraid for her. Not that I think she’s in danger of tarnishing her legacy, but singles is very different from doubles: movement and fitness are much more important. The first round match against the Joint offers hope, given that the Australian is in excellent form, having suffered 13 defeats in her last 14 matches.
If Williams can get behind the ball enough, she has a chance. However, I find it hard to imagine her going any further. At 44 years old, this would be a miracle. I just hope she avoids the injuries that can happen when players return from a long layoff.