Serena Williams rolled her eyes. The 40-year-old American acknowledged questions about her personal expectations for the big comeback at Wimbledon with a mocking smile.
“I have high goals, but we’ll have to see. I’m not going to answer that,” the tennis superstar flirted. Because nothing other than chasing the Grand Slam title record counts for the 23-time winner on her return after a year’s injury layoff. 364 days after her last appearance so far in the grass-court classic and the tear of her thigh muscle, Williams celebrates her eagerly awaited return on Tuesday – and already proves her exceptional status beyond the sport.
Williams, the pro
Team Williams leaves nothing to chance ahead of their opener against France’s Harmony Tan. After the warm-up match in doubles with Ons Jabeur, the Tunisian – seeded number three in Wimbledon after all – also acts as a training partner. It quickly becomes clear who sets the tone on the court. Williams gives short commands, Jabeur plays. Everything for the 24th title at one of the four biggest tournaments, with which Williams would set the record of the Australian Margaret Court. “I didn’t retire,” she stressed at Wimbledon. “I just needed to get better physically and mentally. And I honestly didn’t have any plans to do that. I just didn’t know when I was going to come back. “
Williams, the opponent
Due to her long break, Williams has now slipped to 1204th in the world rankings – and is still appreciated and feared by all her opponents. Angelique Kerber is not the only one who thinks the oldest player in the field has “a lot” going for her. World number one Iga Swiatek from Poland even reported that she was “overwhelmed” when she saw Williams practising at Wimbledon shortly before the start of the tournament and did not know how to react.
Williams, the dedicated one
Throughout her career, Williams has spoken out on social issues, denounced racism and called for more equality. And so the American was also asked about the controversial decision of the US Supreme Court that overturned the country’s liberal abortion law. It was all the more surprising that Williams evaded the question. She did not yet have any thoughts she was willing to share, she said. Less than an hour later, Coco Gauff, 22 years her junior, sharply criticised the ruling.
Williams, the businesswoman
Even during her sporting sabbatical, Williams was not idle professionally. Serena Ventures, an investment company, provides capital primarily to companies whose founders have historically disadvantaged backgrounds. It raised more than US$100 million within a year. “When you have a company like this, you have to go all-in,” she explained. “It takes up all my extra time. And it’s fun. I’m out of the office for the next few weeks. If you send me an email, you get a nice out-of-office note.”
How long this will remain activated also depends on Williams” physical condition. However, it should be at least two weeks. Even if she herself did not want to clearly proclaim the title as a goal, her coach Eric Hechtman made this clear a little later in the “New York Times”: “She is a champion, isn’t she?” he said. “And she plays Wimbledon for a reason. Everybody else going into the tournament wants to win it. And that’s our goal. “
Williams, the mother
And besides the record, Williams would go on to accomplish something else remarkable: In Wimbledon’s 138-year history, she would become only the fifth mother to win the tournament. Daughter Olympia is meanwhile four years old.
