Oddball Serena singles wildcard draws fire

Wimbledon’s awarding of a singles wild card to retired former champion Serena Williams has turned the grass-court major into something of a laughingstock, with even the player herself saying she is far from ready for a return to the big stage.

The 44-year-old who played her last Tour match in 2022 before seeming to walk away at the US Open, has already received a doubles wild card along with her over-40 sister Venus.

Serena, a mother of two, has spent the last few years roaming the celebrity and society circuit far from the discipline of tennis.

She returned to doubles this month in Britain, winning a round with teenaged Victoria Mboko before the youngster was injured.  Her progress was stopped last week in Berlin with another doubles defeat.

Along the way, Williams has all but said she is not ready for prime time:”You think I’m ready for singles? I need to get to work,” she said when asked about her singles hopes.

The Wimbledon move was especially painful to Brits, with retiring ATP player Dan Evans refused wild cards for his farewell appearance at both Queen’s club and Wimbledon.

He is currently involved in Wimbledon qualifying which began on Monday.

2025 Queen’s Ladies Champion Maria was not given a wildcard in 2026 had to come through qualifying.

Williams, with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, last played Wimbledon in 2022, duplicating her first-round loss from the year before.

Her last win at the venue came in 2019, when she went on to lose the final to Simona Halep.

Main photo:- US Open 2022 Day 1 Serena Williams (USA) first round match of her final tournament by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd