Iconic tennis duo Serena and Venus Williams are set to make their return to the Wimbledon courts with a wildcard entry into this year’s women’s doubles competition at SW19.
Neither the American pair who hold six Wimbledon doubles titles between them, nor themselves, will be competing for singles wildcard places but their doubles entry marks their first appearance at the grand slam since last year’s US Open. They have not been given a singles wildcard and there is one place left to be given in the women’s draw.
Serena, 44, returned to competitive tennis on Queen’s Club following her four year break and followed her singles comeback up with doubles tennis in Berlin. Her doubles campaign with Karolina Muchova was a short one and she suffered defeat but this is still, by all means, the biggest competition the 23-time Grand Slam singles winner has featured in.
The 44-year-old six-time Wimbledon singles champion said her daughter, Olympia, urged her to partner her sister and also stated her sister’s doubles campaign at the US Open last year also proved motivational.
She said ‘I think I was really motivated by what Venus was doing in doubles’
Venus, 45, has only played sporadically over the past few seasons but is one of tennis’ most respected athletes. With their singles total they have won 30 Grand Slams between them and revolutionized the game of tennis, along with one another. Their partnership is a spectacle, and one that promises to be a focal point in the draw on June 29 when play starts.
