American tennis legend Serena Williams has revealed she’ll return from her lengthy injury break to chase glory at this year’s edition of Wimbledon, set to begin on June 27.
The 40-year-old will compete on the WTA tour for the first time since last year’s Wimbledon tournament.
Williams took to Instagram to announce her return to the court, saying: “SW and SW19. It’s a date. 2022 See you soon. Let’s go”.
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The All England Club announced on Tuesday that Williams was awarded a wild-card entry for singles.
Her name did not appear on the women’s singles entry list released by the grass-court grand slam tournament earlier this month.
But Williams was among six women given a spot in the singles draw on Tuesday, along with five British players: Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Sonay Kartal, Yuriko Miyazaki and Katie Swan.
Two other women will get invitations “in due course,” the All England Club said.
Seven of the eight men’s wild-card berths were also announced, including one for three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka.
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The wildcard allows the US tennis icon to resume her pursuit of a record-equalling 24th singles grand slam title.
When Williams last took to the court in the opening round of last year’s Wimbledon tournament, she retired injured during the seventh game of a match against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
She fell in the fifth game with a heavily strapped right thigh and, after slipping again during the seventh, broke down in tears and retired in front of a standing ovation.
Williams said on Instagram at the time that she was “heartbroken” and “the court meant the world to me”.
She has won seven of her singles majors at Wimbledon, seven at the Australian Open, six at the US Open and three at Roland-Garros.
Australia’s Margaret Court is the only person, male or female, to have won 24 singles titles.
Williams conquered Wimbledon in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016.
She also competed in the 2018 final and 2019 decider after having a baby.
– With Associated Press
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