Novak Djokovic has described Serena Williams' return to singles tennis at Wimbledon as 'inspirational,' after the 44-year-old accepted a wild-card invitation from the All England Club. Williams, who recently returned to competition in doubles after nearly four years away from professional tennis, will compete in the singles draw at the grass-court Grand Slam.
Djokovic praises Williams' resilience
'What she's doing is truly inspirational,' Djokovic said in a press conference ahead of Wimbledon. 'To come back after such a long break, at her age, and still have the desire to compete at the highest level—it's something that motivates many of us.' Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has not played a singles match since the 2022 US Open, where she retired in the first round due to injury.
Williams' path back to singles
The All England Club announced Sunday that Williams had accepted a wild card for the women's singles main draw. She recently played doubles at the French Open and a warm-up event, partnering with Ons Jabeur. 'I've been working hard to get back to this point,' Williams said in a statement. 'Wimbledon has always been a special place for me, and I'm excited to step onto Centre Court again.'
Williams' last singles title came at the 2017 Australian Open. She has won Wimbledon seven times, most recently in 2016. Her return adds star power to a tournament that will also feature defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and top-ranked Iga Swiatek.
Djokovic's own comeback narrative
Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, is also navigating a comeback after missing last year's tournament due to a knee injury. 'We all have our journeys,' he said. 'Serena's story is a testament to the love of the sport and the will to overcome obstacles.' The Serbian star is seeded second this year and is seeking his eighth Wimbledon title.
Williams will learn her first-round opponent during Friday's draw. The tournament begins July 1 at the All England Club.
