Serena Williams has been handed the final Wimbledon singles wild card into the women’s main draw as she prepares for her Grand Slam comeback.
The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion was already assured of a return to the championships for the first time in four years after accepting a doubles wild card with sister Venus.
Now the 44-year-old American legend will make a stunning return to singles after being handed the final wild card by the All England Club on Sunday.
“This is not a drill,” the tournament wrote in a post on its Instagram account.
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Williams, widely-regarded as the greatest female tennis player of all time, last played a singles match at Wimbledon as a wild card in 2022, losing to Harmony Tan in round one.
After that year’s US Open she said she would “evolve away from tennis” although never officially retired.
Williams first appeared at Wimbledon in 1998, reaching the singles third round.
She won the title for the first time in 2002, beating older sister Venus in the final, and went on to become the dominant force in the women’s game, spending a combined total of 319 weeks as the WTA world No 1.
Williams added singles crowns in 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016 and also won six doubles titles at the grass-court major with Venus.
Who could Serena play in the first round?
The women’s field will feature 128 entrants, meaning Serena – who has no singles ranking – could play one of 127 players as a wild card entry
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, British No 1 Emma Raducanu or defencing champion Iga Swiatek could play Serena in the opening round
Serena has been practising at Wimbledon having posted a video on Instagram on Thursday showing her at Wimbledon’s Aorangi Park practice courts along with daughters Olympia and Adira.
The American ended nearly four years away from the match court last week, winning her first contest at Queen’s alongside Victoria Mboko before the Canadian’s unfortunate injury curtailed their run.
She then headed to Berlin but suffered a first-round loss at the WTA Tour event playing with Karolina Muchova.
Wild cards are handed out by tournament organisers to players whose rankings do not permit automatic entry and are usually reserved for home players, those with illustrious career records or high-profile players returning from injury.
Why Serena is the GOAT
Over the course of her game-changing career to date, Williams, who is now 44 years, nine months old, spent 319 weeks as the WTA world No 1.
Her haul of 73 singles titles, including 23 Grand Slam trophies won over an 18-season period, is the Open era record.
The winner of 39 major titles overall, as well as multiple Olympic medals, she remains the only player to achieve a ‘career Golden Slam’ in singles and doubles (meaning she won both events at all four majors as well as the Olympic Games) and is the prize money leader in women’s sports.
Murray not surprised by Williams’ Wimbledon return
Image:
Andy Murray and Serena Williams played in the mixed doubles together at Wimbledon in 2019
Andy Murray revealed he was not surprised by Williams’ return to Wimbledon after a conversation between the pair at last year’s Miami Open.
Murray, who played alongside Williams in the 2019 Wimbledon mixed doubles, recalled a conversation between the pair with Williams opening up about missing top-level tennis.
“She asked if I missed playing,” Murray told the BBC. “I was like, ‘not at all, to be honest’.
“She said, ‘yes, I miss it every single day. I absolutely loved competing and playing. If I could, I’d be back out there again’.”
On the prospect of his own return, Murray said: “As much as I would love to, I don’t think I’d physically be capable of doing that.
“I haven’t missed the sport enough yet to want to get on the court and even hit tennis balls.
“I don’t mind hitting the occasional ball if it’s required on the practice court, but I don’t think the 44-year-old me will be competing.”
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