Williams’ return to Centre Court
Serena Williams made her return to singles tennis at Wimbledon, facing Maya Joint of Australia on Centre Court. This match marked Williams’ first singles appearance in four years, following her last singles match at the 2022 US Open. Spectators greeted her with an ovation as she entered the court, some holding old photographs of the tennis icon.
The atmosphere on Centre Court was described as reverent, with many in the crowd having grown up watching Williams play. Despite her absence from professional singles tennis, the familiar movements and serving routine of Williams were noted. Her return generated a sense of disbelief among some, given that a four-year break from grand slam singles tennis at her age is often considered a career-ending move.
Joint, who is 20 years old, was born in 2006, by which time Williams had already secured seven of her grand slam titles. The match concluded with Joint winning 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3. Joint started strongly, experienced a dip in the second set, and then recovered from being a break down in the third set to secure the victory.
Match progression and performance
Williams’ competitive nature, which propelled her to 23 Grand Slam titles, suggests she would not be satisfied with the outcome. She has previously stated her dislike for losing. While not her vintage performance, Williams’ play improved as the match progressed before she faded in the third set. There were moments that offered glimpses of the player who dominated the WTA Tour for over two decades.
Early in the match, Williams’ heavy groundstrokes and powerful serve did not consistently find their mark. In the first set, she recorded only five winners and two aces. Former British number one Laura Robson observed that Williams appeared to be feeling the pressure, at times seemingly forgetting to release into her shots due to her strong desire to win.
Despite some flashes of brilliance, including serves exceeding 120mph, Williams’ movement appeared laboured at times, and she occasionally conceded points without attempting to reach the ball. Robson noted that some points lacked the conviction typically associated with Williams, suggesting she might have been holding back.
Williams showed considerable improvement in the second set, forcing more errors from Joint and increasing her first serve percentage to 63%. She also more than tripled her winner count to 17. At a crucial moment, Williams elevated her game, using her serve to save a match point and force a deciding set. However, fatigue eventually affected her performance, as she struggled to maintain the pace in the third set, during which Joint hit 15 winners compared to Williams’ four.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash commented on the high level of tennis displayed by both players, noting Joint’s ability to handle Williams’ pace. He also suggested that if Williams continues to play at this level, she could be a formidable opponent. Former British number one Annabel Croft remarked that Williams was perhaps unlucky to face such a talented opponent in Joint, who played with mental strength and almost outplayed Williams from the back of the court.
Looking ahead
Williams had been training rigorously for her return, but match practice is considered essential. She had only participated in two doubles matches before her singles comeback. To achieve success in singles, particularly on hard courts against powerful hitters, she would likely need more matches under her belt. Her movement was identified as an area that Joint exploited, with Williams sometimes appearing off balance or rooted to the spot.
The next major tournament is the US Open, which is her home Slam and was previously thought to be the location of her final singles appearance in 2022. During her 2022 US Open campaign, Williams defeated then-world number two Anett Kontaveit in front of large, star-studded crowds, a feat few players can achieve. Croft expressed optimism about Williams’ potential if she continues to play more matches, questioning how anyone could have doubted her return to singles play.
Despite the loss, Williams received a warm round of applause from the Centre Court crowd, acknowledging the joy she has brought to the venue. Williams is set to play doubles with her sister Venus at Wimbledon this year.
Source: theguardian.com
