Serena Williams Is Back At 44 For Her First Singles Match In Four Years and Wimbledon Is On NOTICE
Dude, are you ready for this?! The rumblings started months ago, but it felt like a dream. Then winter turned to spring, the European clay-court season kicked off, and suddenly, the impossible became undeniable. On June 1, it was OFFICIAL. Serena Williams, the 23-time major champion, arguably the G.O.A.T. of women's tennis, is BACK! After hitting the court in doubles at the HSBC Championships and Berlin Open, she's finally stepping onto the singles court at Wimbledon this Tuesday, for the first time in nearly FOUR years. Get ready, Emerald City, because this comeback is EVERYTHING!
The Wildfire Rumors Serena Couldn't Put Out
Honestly, nobody believed it at first. The speculation kicked off way back on December 2 last year when Williams quietly reentered the International Tennis Integrity Agency's registered testing pool. This means giving up an hour of your day, every day, for random drug tests. Who would sign up for that if they weren't planning a comeback?
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Serena tried to shut it down on X immediately, posting, "Omg yall I'm NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy." But come on, we all saw through that! She even insisted at a news conference this month that she "definitely was not" planning a return in December. Then, in January, during an appearance on "Today" promoting her partnership with Ro and her use of GLP-1 medications, host Savannah Guthrie pressed her hard about it. Serena got coy, smiling and laughing, but ultimately ending with, "I can't discuss this." But you could FEEL it. And then, February 19, a TikTok video of her serving, declaring, "I have not done this since September 2023." Three days later, she was officially reinstated, eligible to play again. The pieces were all there!
Not Rushed, Just Relentless: This Comeback Is Different
So, here we are, just weeks after the official announcement, and Williams is competing at a major. But don't you dare call this comeback rushed. Her team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes for MONTHS. And yeah, she's 44 now, a mother of two, but her dominant serve, powerful hitting, and unparalleled aura? Still there, baby! Coach Rennae Stubbs, who also coached Serena during her 2022 farewell run, told ESPN how it is. She said Serena called her in February to see "what she was up to," ready to work on the practice court in Florida. Stubbs was all in, telling ESPN, "I mean, when Serena calls you to be a part of her team again, I was more than happy to help and be there as a coach and friend."
The team, including coach Jarmere Jenkins, has shifted priorities, according to Stubbs. "She loves this sport, loves to compete and as long as she is happy doing this and she is her team will be here with her and for her." Stubbs continued, "The most important thing I and any of her team have said is, 'As long as she is enjoying it, that's all we care about.' That is the focus for her too. She doesn't have to prove anything." What's really cool is how much she's enjoying the process now. Stubbs added, "none of this is easy at 44 and with all her other responsibilities, especially being there for her kids. She is a very present mom, and it is amazing to watch her do it all. She is a great example that women truly can do everything."
So, get ready to watch. This Tuesday, the queen takes on No. 53-ranked Maya Joint at Wimbledon in her first singles match in almost four years. She's also playing doubles with Venus. Serena has signaled she's playing competitively all summer, and we're here for every single second of it. Let's go, Serena!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.