Serena Williams Reveals Moment She Decided to Play Singles at Wimbledon

Serena Williams will face Maya Joint on Tuesday (June 30), and this will mark her first singles match since the 2022 US Open third round. Williams, who has already played doubles after making her comeback from retirement, received the wild card to feature in singles at SW19.

Williams is also playing doubles in the grass-court Major with her sister, Venus Williams. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, winner of seven singles trophies in the third Major of the season, talked about the last-minute invitation from Wimbledon and revealed the moment she decided to compete. She revealed she gave herself a pep talk to compete in singles.

I think I had until Monday to decide. I think it was on Sunday. I just wasn’t sure until that moment. Honestly, I’m still not sure, but we’ll see. My feelings will be different. Overall, my expectations are definitely different for the first time in my career. I feel like I’m going to enjoy being there a lot.

Serena Williams said at the press conference

The former World No.1 last won a singles title at Wimbledon in 2016 and also played two more finals, in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, in 2016, she and Venus lifted their career’s last Major doubles title in the London Major.

I thought that Wimbledon doesn’t offer an invitation to someone every day. I could probably name just a handful of people. It turns out I was one of them. I thought I really should take advantage of this opportunity. Who knows if I’ll ever come back here? This could be the last time. I said to myself, ‘What’s wrong with you, Serena? What are you thinking? Are you crazy? You should really do it.’ 

Serena Williams added

Williams played her first official match at the Queen’s Club Championships with Victoria Mboko. They won their first match but handed the walkover to their second-round opponents after the Canadian teenager suffered an injury during her singles match.

Williams then teamed up with Karolina Muchova for doubles at the Berlin Open. But they suffered an opening-round exit.

Serena Williams on the respect she instills in her opponents

Maya Joint couldn’t believe it when she heard that she would be playing Serena Williams in the first round of Wimbledon. When her coach, Chris Mahony, told her about the same, she thought he was pulling her leg.

And then Williams’ old rival, Samantha Stosur, messaged the youngster, and Joint thought the whole thing literally was a “pinch me moment“. Williams understands the respect she instills in her opponents.

With respect, it’s not surprising, simply because I think anyone who has done what I have, like Novak [Djokovic] still being here, no one would want to play him in the first round. I just think it’s immense respect. It’s also a natural feeling. Especially in a Grand Slam, you want to warm up, you want to play against someone.

Serena Williams said at the press conference

Iga Swiatek will enter the tournament as the defending champion (double-bageled Amanda Anisimova last year). The six-time Grand Slam champion could face Williams for the first time in her career if they both progress to the third round.

Williams last clinched a title at the 2020 ASB Classic by defeating Jessica Pegula. In her last singles Grand Slam final at the 2019 US Open, Williams lost to Bianca Andreescu. The 44-year-old last lifted a Major singles title at the 2017 Australian Open by defeating Venus Williams.

The Williams sisters will start their Wimbledon doubles campaign against Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio. Venus did not receive the wild card for singles.

Also read: Alexander Zverev Makes Allergy Confession from Wimbledon Grass: “I Suffer from It Every Year”