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Spreading Grass: On Serena Williams' Return to the Grounds Israel today

2022-06-19T08:59:36.589Z


Many doubt her ability to recreate past achievements, others are still afraid to face her • The tennis world is ready for the 40-year-old American to return to Wimbledon: "It will be exciting"


Sometimes, when he's clear and calm and not messing around with nonsense like throwing bats everywhere, it's worth listening to Nick Kirius.

And this is what he said this week regarding the announcement that Serena Williams has received a free ticket to the Wimbledon tournament where she will return to the courts at the age of 40 and after a full year without tennis: "I think as long as legends like Roger (Federer), Rafa (Nadal), Novak (C) "Kovic, LeBron (James) and Serena (Williams) want to keep playing, you have to give them the opportunity and just enjoy being here."

In Kirius' view, the fact that Serena is doing so in a tournament where no points will be awarded due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian tennis players makes the American's return even more noteworthy: " ! ".

Is and how much Serena at all able to play?

That's another question.

Unlike Roger Federer, who planned and published the schedule of his graded comeback to the pitches, Williams surprised many when less than two weeks before the Wimbledon tournament she announced her intention to participate. Late with only thanks to the free ticket she received.

In fact, at no point in recent months has Serena hinted at any comeback.

Although rumors have been circulating about such a possibility, it stems from the history that shows that the grass season is much more preferred over it than the clay season.

She has won Wimbledon seven times, and if she had to guess when and where she will return - Wimbledon was the safest guess of them all. 

In the opinion of many, and probably also in her opinion, the fast grass courts are the ideal place for her to try and achieve what has eluded her many times since 2017: Grand Slam No. 24 that will equal Margaret Kurt's record.

Serena Williams.

"An excellent example of not having to boycott the tournament because of the scoring issue," Photo: AP

Her career is replete with marvelous comebacks - some after serious injuries and ending with Grand Slam wins, and there was also the postpartum comeback that made it to the finals at Wimbledon and the US - but it's hard not to wonder if she can do it at her age and after such a long break? In 2017 she lost four finals and in the previous two years she only reached the semifinals twice.Wimbledon 2021 finished in the first round when she retired due to injury. 

"They will be afraid to accept her"

Now, the uncertainty in matters of health, playing ability and age is joined by the uncertainty regarding professional preparation.

Serena has stopped working with her former coach for the past decade, Patrick Mortoglu, who is now collaborating with Simona Halp.

In a recent interview with Eurosport, the Frenchman said he tried to understand from Williams what she wanted to do next year, but never received a clear answer: "One day I told her I would wait for her in the morning at the training ground and if she did not come I would see myself free and free ".

Apparently Serena did not arrive.

So whoever might coach her at Wimbledon will be the former coach of her sister Venus, Eric Hechtman. 

And yet, Serena is Serena.

The resume, the aura, the experience - all of these make it something that should not be disqualified in advance.

"I'm sure no one will want to play against them," commentator Barbara Shett declared.

"I coach her that the other 127 players in the lottery will be afraid to accept Serena Williams."

In the same breath she mentioned all the doubts that accompany this comeback, but her conclusion was similar to that of Kirius: "I could not believe it when I saw the announcement of her return! It would be very exciting to see her on the tennis court once again."

Williams.

With seven wins at Wimbledon, every tennis player will be happy to avoid meeting her, Photo: AP

This week, starting Monday, it will happen.

Serena will be collaborating with Rape Jabor at the doubles tournament in Eastbourne in what will be her first and final preparation for Wimbledon.

"It's a great honor for me, when she chose me to collaborate with her I was in heaven," the Tunisian said.

And this is the situation at the moment: everyone is excited about the return of Serena Williams - whoever plays with her, and whoever may play against her. 

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Source: israelhayom

All sports articles on 2022-06-19

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