Serena Williams was not sure of accepting a wildcard for this year’s singles draw at Wimbledon but the 44-year-old is now looking forward to enjoy her return to the All England Club.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion will face Australia’s Maya Joint in the first round on Centre Court on ‌Tuesday. This would be Serena’s first appearance at Wimbledon since 2022, when she crashed out in the opening round.
Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, stepped away from tennis after the 2022 US Open but made her return to competitive tennis earlier this month.
Speaking to reporters in London on Sunday, Serena said her mindset has changed as she prepares for another chapter in her career.
“I think in general my expectations are definitely different for the first time in my career,” Serena said.
“I feel like my feelings are just – not that I never enjoyed it before, or else I wouldn’t be here today – but I feel like I’m really going to enjoy being out there.”
Serena last played a singles match at the 2022 US Open, where she said she was “evolving away from tennis.”
She will face world number 53 Maya Joint, a 20-year-old who has already won two WTA titles, including the Eastbourne grass-court tournament last year. Serena will also play doubles alongside her sister, Venus Williams.
The American admitted she expects to feel nervous when she returns to the court.
“I expect to be nervous. I was also nervous every single match I ever played in my life,” she said.
“I think that showed the passion and the love and the care, that I cared about my job, whether it was the first round or the second round or the finals. I’ve always had some nerves. But then I just dust ’em off, then I move on.”
Serena returned to competition earlier this month after a four-year break, playing doubles with Canada’s Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club before also competing in Berlin.
Asked what message she hopes her comeback will send, the mother of two said she simply wanted to enjoy the chance to compete again.
“People live to be an athlete. I have this great opportunity to showcase what I do, what I do best, I suppose,” she said.
“Yeah, I think ultimately I was like, that is pretty cool, so I should do it.
“I think there will be a message that I will think of and I will learn also and I can spread. But as of now, I just think you have to believe in yourself and go for any dream, no matter how wild it may be.”
