Serena Williams’ preparations for her Wimbledon comeback suffered a setback on Tuesday after she and Czech partner Karolina Muchova were beaten in straight sets at the Berlin Open doubles event.
The pair lost 6-4, 6-4 to Mexico’s Giuliana Olmos and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe, just hours after Wimbledon confirmed Williams would return to the tournament alongside her sister, Venus Williams.
Despite the defeat, the 44-year-old tennis legend said she felt physically stronger and quicker than in her first comeback match at Queen’s Club earlier this month.
“I felt pretty good out there. I felt actually more nimble and more sturdy and quicker than the first match in Queens,” Williams said.
The match was only her second since announcing a surprise return to professional tennis after nearly four years away from the sport. Williams retired in 2022 but recently revealed that her desire to play in front of her two daughters inspired her comeback.
While she showed flashes of the powerful game that helped her win 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Williams admitted she is not yet ready for a singles return.
“You think I’m ready for singles? I need to get to work,” she joked when asked about a possible Wimbledon singles appearance.
Williams and her sister Venus have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, including six Wimbledon crowns, and fans will now be eager to see the legendary duo reunite on the grass courts once again.
Source: AFP.
