London: Tennis star Serena Williams is all set to return to professional tennis after four years of break, reports suggest. The 23-time Grand Slam champion will resume her career by starting off by playing singles at the Wimbledon Championships.
At 44, Williams will actually play both singles and doubles at Wimbledon after already accepting a wild card for the doubles competition with older sister Venus.
Wild cards are special invitations handed out by tournament organisers, which allow former champions and others access to the main draw without the necessary entry qualifications.
At her last Wimbledon appearance in 2022, Serena was beaten in the opening round by 115th-ranked Harmony Tan in her first match since having to stop less than a set into her opening contest at the All England Club because of an injury the year before.
Serena won a doubles match with partner Victoria Mboko at Queen's Club last week but the pair had to withdraw after Mboko injured her knee in a singles match.
As of Sunday, Serena had not entered the singles draws of any grass-court tuneup tournaments before Wimbledon.
She will learn who her first-round opponent is on Friday when the singles draws for Wimbledon are held.
While she's No. 593 in the doubles rankings courtesy of her victory last week, Serena has no singles ranking after being away for so long.
Iga Swiatek is the defending Wimbledon champion, while Aryna Sabalenka is ranked No. 1.
