Serena Williams on Her Comeback Motivation
Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has announced her return to competitive tennis after nearly four years away, emphasizing that she has "nothing to prove." Her primary motivation for returning is the opportunity for her daughters to witness her play.
Williams will compete alongside Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in the doubles event at Queen's, starting Monday. The 44-year-old American stressed that she is not placing pressure on herself as she reenters the sport she once dominated.
"I've had enough pressure. It's really about my kids getting to see me play," Williams said.
"It's also that being an athlete is the best thing that you can be in the highest place. Having an opportunity to still be able to possibly do that one last time is kind of cool and exciting."
Williams gave birth to her eldest daughter, Olympia, now eight, in 2017 and returned to tennis a few months later. She reached four major singles finals after her first child was born. Her second daughter, Adira, was born in 2023 and has never seen her mother compete on the tour.
When asked about the importance of proving she can still win, Williams responded, "I don't need to win. I've won more than most people have in their whole lives. That [winning] is not important to me and it's important that I keep reminding myself of that. I don't have anything to prove, I don't have anything to lose and everything here is just to gain."
Currently, Williams is only participating in doubles but did not rule out a future singles return, noting that it is not in her immediate plans.
"I feel like I probably need to train a little bit more if I want to play singles and we'll see if I get there," she added. "If not, that's not my journey right now."
Williams' Return to Queen's Doubles
Williams, 44, will return to action in the Queen's doubles event. Meanwhile, in other tennis news, Alexander Zverev defeated Matteo Cobolli in a tense Paris final to claim his first Grand Slam title.
What Drives a Player to Return?
Williams has never favored the term "retirement," preferring to describe her 2022 US Open exit as "evolving away" from tennis. The question remains: what motivates a top player to make a comeback?
Former world number one Lindsay Davenport told that the answer is simple: an unrelenting desire to win.
"Serena's mindset has always been to be the best. Her mindset has always been to not settle for mediocrity," Davenport said. "I think we have to assume she's coming back because she feels she's in a position where she can actually make an impact immediately in women's tennis."
Williams had been hinting at a comeback for months after intensifying her practice sessions in Florida. In December, she re-registered in the drug testing pool, a significant indicator of her intentions. At that time, she stated she was "not coming back," but in a January interview, she did not dismiss the possibility of returning to match play.
Last week, after much speculation, Williams confirmed her return at Queen's.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber, who made her own comeback at 36 after having a baby, told , "You know you can do it - especially Serena because she was the greatest. It's easier to see on TV how the girls are playing and saying 'OK, I can still do it'. But when you make a comeback you never know what to expect. She knows how to win, but the question mark for anyone returning is whether you're still committed to do it every day."
Facing the Younger Generation
It is expected that Williams, who will turn 45 in September, will receive a wildcard for Wimbledon if she chooses to participate. However, age may present challenges if she returns to singles competition.
Most top players are approximately 20 years younger than Williams, including 28-year-old world number one Aryna Sabalenka and 25-year-old reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek.
Williams has not won a major since the 2017 Australian Open, when she was 35 and before having two children. At her peak, she was known for her athleticism and powerful game.
Victoria Mboko, 19, who has practiced with Williams at Queen's, believes the veteran is prepared.
"She has such clean ball striking. She could take years off and once she steps on the court she could probably find her rhythm and timing again," Mboko said. "I think that's really a god-given gift she has. She's hitting pretty big."
Last year, Williams revealed she had used weight loss drugs to address the stigma surrounding such medication and returned to tennis in leaner form. She had struggled to lose weight gained during pregnancy.
Davenport added, "She looks in incredible shape and better shape than arguably when she left the sport. We're seeing an unprecedented time with how players are able to play better for longer and play at a level we never expected - look at Novak Djokovic. But we have got to be a little graceful in the time we give her until she hits her peak."
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