Venus Williams and Serena Williams are making an extraordinary comeback at Wimbledon, where they will play doubles together.
The Williams sisters have received a Wimbledon wildcard, representing the only non-British women’s doubles players to earn that honor.
Venus Williams and Serena Williams have played 14 Grand Slam doubles finals together, winning them all, including six at Wimbledon.
But WTA player Danielle Collins has admitted some disappointment concerning the duo ahead of their stunning comeback in London.
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Danielle Collins admits sadness as Venus and Serena receive Wimbledon wildcard
Collins said on Tennis Channel: “Oh I mean so many of my childhood tennis memories are watching Venus and Serena growing up on TV, and to see them back out on the courts almost… gosh, 20/25 years later, I mean it’s just crazy.”
Former ATP player Sam Querrey then said: “Yeah, no surprise they got a wildcard. We’ve been hearing the Serena rumblings for about three weeks now.
“So I think, look, I’m not surprised they got it, I’m excited, right? And the fact that she’s playing with Venus.
“The story’s kind of been for the last few days, Serena’s obviously going to get a wildcard in the doubles, but who’s she going to play with?
“And the fact that it’s Venus, that makes it even a little more special and a little more interesting, I think, for everyone.”
Collins then added: “I’m a little bit bummed that they’re not going to play a warm-up tournament before, just so we get like a little sneak peek preview of what that’s going to be like all these years later.
“But you know, they’re sisters, they know each other so well. I think there’s that intuitiveness too when they’re playing with each other, knowing each other’s tendencies, and having known each other their whole lives, and being best friends.
“I mean, I think they’re going to go out there and be able to make those adjustments with each other, even though they haven’t been playing together, pretty easily.”
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Danielle Collins would be surprised if Serena Williams played Wimbledon singles
Serena Williams has taken to the court twice since her return to tennis following a break of almost four years.
The WTA legend won her opener with Victoria Mboko at Queen’s, before suffering defeat with Karolina Muchova in Berlin.
She will soon turn her focus to doubles at Wimbledon, where notably a singles wildcard remains up for grabs.
Discussing if Wimbledon could give it to either Venus or Serena, Collins said: “That could very well be the case.
“We will find out. I would be a little bit surprised if Serena took the wildcard for this tournament.
“I suspect that she’s probably going to want to continue playing doubles a little bit more, just judging off of some of the press conferences she’s had and talked about how if she wanted to play singles, she would need to train a little bit more.
“So I would think that if she was going to play in a Grand Slam, she would do what she’s done now.
“She signed up for these tournaments, she’s getting a couple of matches under her belt on the doubles side, and then will go play a Grand Slam.
“I would think that she would want a couple of warm-up tournaments just to see. But you never know, she can do anything, because she is the GOAT. So we’ll see.”
Querrey then said: “Until she gives a definitive ‘no’ to the All England Club, which maybe she’s done, maybe she’s not done, we don’t know, you keep that wildcard for the last minute.
“And if she says no, you go back and say, are you sure? If she says no to that, you say, are you double sure?
“You do whatever you can to make sure that is available for her if she wants it.”
And when asked if it should be given to Venus if she wants it, he replied: “Possibly. I don’t know who else is in the running to possibly get it.
“Venus is obviously very high on that list, but Venus also hasn’t been playing a ton lately herself. But we’ll see.
“I mean, if Serena doesn’t get it, Venus is probably the next one on the list who you’d want to give it to.”
It remains to be seen what decision will be made regarding the two superstars, but one certainty is that they would immediately fill the stadiums at Wimbledon should either take to the singles court.
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