Serena Jameka Williams has come out to disclose that she didn’t retire, she just didn’t know when or how she would return to tennis.
According to her, “I didn’t retire. I just needed to heal physically, mentally. I had no plans. I just didn’t know when I would come back. I didn’t know how I would come back. ”
The American star who is set to return to singles action at Wimbledon next week for the first time since her painful departure from the All England Club in the first round, 2021 is a seven-time Wimbeldon champion which fetched her the 24th Slam title.
She was forced to quit her centre court opener against Aliaksandra Sasnovich after her last appearance at the All England Club which ended after just six games.
Serena who had her first performance in 1998, said she didn’t want the teary exit to be her last memory of Wimbledon.
“It was a lot of motivation, to be honest. It was always something since the match ended that was always on my mind.
Wimbledon was tough last year. I felt like I was injured for most of the year. Then I ripped my hamstring.
Who knows where I’ll pop up, I still tried to make New York. I gave everything I could, just every day getting ready or trying to make it. But then it’s just like, I’m not going to make it. Hung up my racquets for a little bit until I could just heal. ”
In a bid to change the usual order of event and also due to the gravity of Serena’s injury last year after she slipped and fell, organisers have thought it wise to allow practice sessions on Centre Court.
“On the one hand it’s amazing, but on the other hand it’s like, we have to preserve Centre Court,
Obviously I was super happy to be out there and have that opportunity, and it was also good for me to get that out of my system because the last moment I had on Centre Court was probably not my best moment. ” The 40-year-old said.
Serena has also decided before the French Open to make her comeback at Wimbledon and to warm-up for the event. She also played two matches in doubles with Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in Eastbourne.
“Probably could have played singles there. I felt more prepared than I thought I would have a month or two months or three months ago,” she stated.
Although her rivals at Wimbledon were delighted to see her back on court, this was even captured in Iga Swiatek, the recently-crowned French Open champion’s words who said, “I saw her yesterday, I was pretty overwhelmed. “
Serena, seems not to be interested in disclosing her long-term future in the sport as to, whether or not this is going to be her last Wimbledon.
“I can only tell you that I’m here. Who knows where I’ll pop up next,” said the professional tennis player who turns 41 in September.
