She was about to win, she knew it. She went for a shot, and that’s when she feels the popping sensation in her right leg. A sharp pain jabs at it, and soon her right leg gives away to the slick, grassy court. Selena Williams, forty years old, had torn her right hamstring in the first round of the 2021 Wimbledon and was forced to withdraw. After a year of recovery, she now returns to the court. But being without practice for a year, how does the tennis champion feel about her return?
Christopher Clarey, the reporter for the New York Times, asked Williams how much she was motivated during her comeback by the desire to give herself a different memory at Wimbledon. “It was always something since the match ended, that was always on my mind,” was her reply. “So it was a tremendous amount of motivation.” Williams was in tears during the 2021 Wimbledon when she tried to continue with a broken hamstring, and then again as she was forced to leave the court. She took the year off, also withdrawing from three Grand Slam Tournaments throughout the year. Some people, a lot of people, have started to doubt the possibility that Williams would resume her career in tennis. She has confirmed herself that she didn’t retire and had no plans on doing so. She also explained she wasn’t certain on how and where to come back, and that Wimbledon is “such a great place to be, and it just kind of worked out.”
During this time, Serena had also parted ways with Patrick Mouratoglou, her tennis coach since 2012. She started working with Eric Hechtman, longtime director of the Royal Palm Tennis club, located in Miami. He has also coached Serena’s sister, Venus Williams, since 2019. Even if he knows about Serena’s situation, he has made his attitude clear on the goal for this year’s Wimbledon.
“She’s a champion, right? And she’s playing Wimbledon for a reason,” he said. “Just like I think anybody that walks into the tournament, their goal is to win the event. And that’s our goal.”
Serena, however, remained elusive about further details. When asked if this would be her final Wimbledon, she remains elusive. “You know, I don’t know,” Serena said. “I can only tell you that I’m here. Who knows where I’ll pop up next? You’ve just got to be ready.” And the tennis fans around the world were ready. The first round against Harmony Tan of France, scheduled to be on Tuesday, June 29th, was Serena’s first Grand Slam since 2021, and everyone waited to see how the round would turn out. Disappointing, although not unexpected, Serena Williams lost to Harmony Tan after a fearsome battle, scoring 10-7.
Christopher Clarey, the reporter for the New York Times, asked Williams how much she was motivated during her comeback by the desire to give herself a different memory at Wimbledon. “It was always something since the match ended, that was always on my mind,” was her reply. “So it was a tremendous amount of motivation.” Williams was in tears during the 2021 Wimbledon when she tried to continue with a broken hamstring, and then again as she was forced to leave the court. She took the year off, also withdrawing from three Grand Slam Tournaments throughout the year. Some people, a lot of people, have started to doubt the possibility that Williams would resume her career in tennis. She has confirmed herself that she didn’t retire and had no plans on doing so. She also explained she wasn’t certain on how and where to come back, and that Wimbledon is “such a great place to be, and it just kind of worked out.”
During this time, Serena had also parted ways with Patrick Mouratoglou, her tennis coach since 2012. She started working with Eric Hechtman, longtime director of the Royal Palm Tennis club, located in Miami. He has also coached Serena’s sister, Venus Williams, since 2019. Even if he knows about Serena’s situation, he has made his attitude clear on the goal for this year’s Wimbledon.
“She’s a champion, right? And she’s playing Wimbledon for a reason,” he said. “Just like I think anybody that walks into the tournament, their goal is to win the event. And that’s our goal.”
Serena, however, remained elusive about further details. When asked if this would be her final Wimbledon, she remains elusive. “You know, I don’t know,” Serena said. “I can only tell you that I’m here. Who knows where I’ll pop up next? You’ve just got to be ready.” And the tennis fans around the world were ready. The first round against Harmony Tan of France, scheduled to be on Tuesday, June 29th, was Serena’s first Grand Slam since 2021, and everyone waited to see how the round would turn out. Disappointing, although not unexpected, Serena Williams lost to Harmony Tan after a fearsome battle, scoring 10-7.
