TENNIS: Serena return electrifies wide-open Wimbledon

LONDON — A decade after Serena Williams last lifted her seventh Wimbledon singles title, her return to the tournament next week adds a compelling new dimension to an already wide-open women’s draw.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka will be aiming to rebound from her disappointing exit at the French Open, where she fell in the quarterfinals, as she seeks her first Wimbledon crown.

Poland’s Iga Swiatek is chasing a rare feat—becoming the first player since Williams in 2016 to successfully defend the Wimbledon title.

Fresh off becoming the youngest French Open champion in 34 years, Russia’s 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva arrives at the All England Club with growing expectations and an increasingly dangerous all-court game.

American Coco Gauff continues her search for a breakthrough on grass, while 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina remains one of the most dangerous hitters on the surface. Britain’s Emma Raducanu also enters with hopes of igniting a home surge toward a first British women’s Wimbledon title since 1977.

Yet when 44-year-old Williams steps onto Centre Court—the stage she once dominated—attention will inevitably center on her. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion returns after a four-year absence, reviving a career that many believed had ended.

Granted the final singles wildcard by Wimbledon organizers, Williams is set to play her first competitive singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open, guaranteeing global attention and a surge in television viewership and social media interest.

Her comeback, long the subject of speculation, became increasingly visible in recent months. She re-entered the anti-doping testing pool last December and has been training under coach Rennae Stubbs, while reports indicated a significant physical transformation during her preparation period.

Williams’ trademark 120 mph serve—long regarded as one of the most powerful weapons in women’s tennis—was already on display during her recent doubles appearance alongside Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club, along with her familiar baseline strength and composure.

Singles competition, however, presents a far greater challenge. Still, few would be surprised if she becomes the oldest woman to win a Wimbledon singles match since Martina Navratilova achieved the feat at age 47 in 2004.

Former world number one Andy Roddick praised the boldness of Williams’ decision to return at Wimbledon without a gradual buildup on tour, highlighting her confidence in handling the sport’s biggest stage.

Another Grand Slam champion, Lindsay Davenport, noted that Williams would only return if she believed she could make an immediate impact, while also acknowledging the difficulty of returning to top-level competition on grass.

Since Williams defeated Germany’s Angelique Kerber to win the 2016 title, Wimbledon has produced eight first-time champions—underscoring the increasing depth and unpredictability of the women’s game.

In that span, multiple stars including Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, Rybakina and former champion Ash Barty have claimed Grand Slam titles, yet none have sustained dominance comparable to Williams at her peak.

The last six Grand Slams have been won by six different players, reflecting a highly competitive and unsettled era in women’s tennis. Sabalenka, who has held the world number one ranking since October 2024, remains a leading contender but has also shown signs of vulnerability in key moments.

At Roland Garros, she was just two points from reaching the semifinals before losing control of her match, dropping the final 10 games. Her Wimbledon buildup also included a heavy defeat to Jessica Pegula in Berlin, where she lost a deciding set 6–0.

Known for her emotional intensity on court, Sabalenka’s mental resilience will again be under scrutiny at Wimbledon, where expectations will be high.

And looming over all of it is the possibility of a blockbuster matchup with Williams herself—a scenario that would dominate headlines worldwide. As one commentator noted, there may be little to gain and much to lose for any top seed facing a returning legend with nothing to prove and everything to gain.

In a women’s draw defined by parity, power, and unpredictability, Williams’ return may once again shift the spotlight entirely to Centre Court. -Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters