Tennis legend, Serena Williams is playing in the Eastbourne Internationals tournament to make herself ready for Wimbledon Open. She will compete at the All England Club, where she is a seven-time singles champion. Serena will make her return to Grand Slam tennis at Wimbledon this month after getting a wildcard entry to the singles.
The 23- times Grand Slam winner has not played since injuring herself last year. Serena has not competed in the tennis circuit since Wimbledon 2021. She withdrew from the tournament as she suffered a hamstring injury to her right leg in her first round match. Her hamstring discomfort kept her off the field for months.
Serena Williams made a winning return after one year layoff. She strode onto center court in Devonshire Park at Eastbourne to a standing ovation for her first competitive tennis match in almost a year.
After her first win at the Eastbourne Internationals she said, “I caught some fire behind me! I needed that. It was good. We’re just taking it one day at a time.”
Jan-Michael Gambill talks about the game of Serena Williams
Serena and Tunisian tennis player, Ons Jabeur came from a set down to win their first match. Recovering from losing the first set 6-2, the American-Tunisian pair winner onto win the second 6-3. Then winning the match tiebreaker 13-11 on their third match point. The duo beat Spaniard-Czech pair of Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova 2-6, 6-3, 13-11 in the women’s doubles at the Eastbourne Internationals.
Serena Williams and Ons Jabeur defeated Shuko Aoyama and Chan Hao-ching 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of Eastbourne Internationals event at Devonshire Park. Williams’s return to court has been brilliant. She and world no.3, Ons Jabeur reached the women’s doubles semi-final at Eastbourne International.
Recently Jan-Michael Gambill talked about Serena’s game in these two matches in Devonshire Park. He said, “Yesterday was interesting, yesterday it felt like every set she played, she got a little bit better. The 10 point match-break to finish it off… What incredible tennis from everyone involved in that match. It was exciting tennis.”
“I think she’s using these matches as the practice she needs for Wimbledon.” 💪 @JanmikeGambill | @serenawilliams | #TCLive pic.twitter.com/ZEgYgbyI4P
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 22, 2022
He added, “She is using these matches as the practice she needs for Wimbledon. The serve is gonna get better and better. It’s gonna be a tool that she needs in Wimbledon this year. Tennis was high quality today.”
Fans were on their feet celebrating the comeback win for the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion at the Wimbledon warmup event on Sussex sea-side. The American-Tunisian duo of Williams and Jabeur will next take on Aleksandra Krunic and Magda Linette in the semi-finals.