Serena Williams and her team have arrived at Wimbledon, where the legendary figure will play singles and doubles.
Williams has received wildcards to play in both formats at the All England Club, where she has claimed multiple titles.
The American icon boasts seven Wimbledon singles titles, along with six in doubles and one in mixed doubles.
And her assistant coach Rennae Stubbs, a former WTA player, has now confirmed why Williams has accepted a wildcard at the age of 44.
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Why Serena Williams has accepted a Wimbledon wildcard
Stubbs wrote on Substack: “Her accepting this wildcard isn’t an indication of anything other than wanting to test herself again against the best players in the world.
“By her own account, a lot of this is for her daughters – wanting them to see their mother do the thing she loves, not just hear about it.
“There’s something quietly devastating and beautiful in that: coming back not for one more trophy, but so two little girls have a memory instead of a legend.
“She’s an inspiration to people, and the people who look down on this have never put themselves on the line in their own lives.
“As great as Serena Williams is, the most amazing thing about her is her willingness to learn, her willingness to listen, and her willingness to get better every single day.
“That’s something I would love for all of you to know about her.”
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Rennae Stubbs’ first thought about Serena Williams coming back to tennis
It is truly remarkable that Williams has decided to return to tennis, although perhaps it isn’t entirely a surprise.
She didn’t officially retire from the sport, instead leaving the door open for a comeback after her appearance at the 2022 US Open.
But Stubbs is among those delighted that Williams has decided to return, noting: “When Serena and I talked about her comeback, my first thought wasn’t about rankings or records.
“It was simpler than that – this woman just loves playing tennis, and she loves challenging herself.
“She loves to compete.
“She loves to put herself on the line, knowing exactly what it costs to do this at forty-four, in front of the entire world, with nothing left to prove and everything still to feel.”
Williams and her team will now be eagerly awaiting her draw, both for singles and for her doubles run with her sister Venus Williams.
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