Serena Williams is reportedly firming to make a return to the court for next month’s grand slam.
The 44-year-old has not played since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open left her one short of the all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
At the time, she insisted she wasn’t “retiring”, but she simply was “evolving” away from tennis.
She then sparked rumours that her return was imminent after re-entering the testing pool and has continued to tease a return on social media, posting several videos of her on-court workouts.
And now several media reports have claimed she is set to return for the grass-court season and has asked for a wildcard to compete in doubles at Queen’s.
The Served podcast, hosted by former men’s world number one Andy Roddick, on Thursday said Williams was set to partner Canadian rising star Mboko in London at Queen’s, which starts on June 8.
Wimbledon is a happy hunting ground for Williams, with the American winning the women’s singles title seven times, the women’s doubles title six times and the mixed doubles title once.
Unsurprisingly, the media storm has taken over the French Open with Mboko quizzed on her potential partnership with Williams.
“I think for me I want to kind of let the moment (be) for her,” Mboko told reporters after her third-round match.
“I feel like if she’s ready to come back on her own terms, then I feel like it’s up to her to announce that.
“Other than that I don’t really have much to say. I think the moment is all up to her and when she’s ready to come back. Yeah, it’s up to her.”
While Coco Gauff said she would love to face Serena for the first time.
“I did say one of my biggest regrets was not being able to play her,” Gauff said.
“Everybody has been hearing rumours and stuff. So if they are true, I guess we’ll find out in a couple of days based off the rumours.
“We’ll see, but I think it would be cool for this sport to have a legend back playing.”
The other possibility is that Williams could team up in doubles with her older sister, either at a lead-in tournament or on the ATP Tour.
Venus returned to competition last July at age 45, after nearly two years off tour.
At the US Open, Venus became the oldest player to play singles at the American grand slam tournament since 1981 and previously formed a formidable partnership with Serena.
The Williams duo claimed 14 grand slam doubles titles together, and at last year’s DC Open, Venus declared she hoped Serena would again share the court with her.
– with AFP
