Serena Williams has been a highly visible presence at the All England Club, training on court 10 in Aorangi Park with players like Marta Kostyuk. Kostyuk, known for her extroverted nature, was momentarily speechless when Williams thanked her for the session, replying, "No, thank you for playing with me."
Williams's Return and Motivations
Williams, one of the greatest athletes of all time, has influenced countless players. Her career achievements and massive profile mean she has occupied a significant space in tennis for decades. The All England Club announced her singles wildcard on Sunday evening, spawning numerous questions about her motivations. Williams has framed this comeback as an opportunity to share her profession with her children, Olympia and Adira. However, other motivations may include her role as spokesperson for Ro, the company behind the GLP-1 drug Zepbound, which sponsored the broadcast of her comeback doubles match at Queen's Club.
Training and Form
Williams has been highly visible on the grounds, practicing with singles players such as Maria Sakkari, Jaqueline Cristian, and Kostyuk. While she looked erratic against Sakkari on Tuesday, she impressively went toe-to-toe with world No. 13 Kostyuk for over an hour on Thursday. Her serve remains a singular weapon, though her movement around the ball and out of corners is still an issue. The most pressing question is her level on court, especially given how late she took the wildcard. Williams herself does not know the answer.
First Round Draw and Potential Path
Williams received a favorable first-round draw against Maya Joint of Australia, who is 20 years old and has lost 13 of her past 14 matches. If she wins, her first seeded opponent could be 29th seed Alexandra Eala. Defending champion Iga Swiatek, the third seed, could await in round three. At 44 and after four years of retirement, Williams must take it match by match.
WTA Landscape
The WTA is in a curious state. Top players Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff have been unconvincing. Sabalenka is enduring her worst run since becoming world No. 1, while Gauff is at her worst on grass. Mirra Andreeva, after winning the French Open, is determined to add to her title count. Deep runs from players like Karolina Muchova, Belinda Bencic, or Jessica Pegula would not be surprising. Amanda Anisimova, last year's finalist, comes in poor form due to injury, and Elina Svitolina withdrew from Bad Homburg with a hip injury.
Early Spotlight
For the first few days of Wimbledon, Serena Williams will take up the majority of space in most minds across the All England Club, as has been the case for much of the past three decades.
