"My score is a C-!" Serena Williams, the tennis queen, reflects on her comeback victory at age 45, four years after her return

*This content was translated by AI.

It was a comeback performance befitting the tennis queen. Serena Williams (45, USA), competing in her first match in four years at a considerable age, secured a victory but gave her own performance a cool "C-" rating.

On the 10th (Korea time), Williams competed in the first round of the women's doubles at the HSBC Championships, a WTA Tour event held at Queen's Club in London, UK, partnering with Canadian prospect Victoria Mboko. The Williams-Mboko pair defeated the team of Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) and Erin Routliffe (New Zealand) with a 2-0 victory.

Williams is one of the greatest players in tennis history, requiring no introduction. She has claimed the WTA singles title 73 times in her career, including 23 Grand Slam singles titles. No female player has won more major singles titles than Williams since the Open Era began in 1968, when professional players were allowed to compete in Grand Slams.

Williams has won the Australian Open seven times, Wimbledon seven times, and the US Open six times. She has also won the French Open three times. She holds four Olympic gold medals, winning in women's doubles at the 2000 Sydney, 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London Olympics, and claiming the women's singles title at the 2012 London Games.

However, Williams has not competed in an official match since the 2022 US Open. This match marked her comeback after approximately four years.

Although Williams returned to the court after a long absence, she still displayed powerful play and precise technique.

Reuters also focused on Williams' comeback. The outlet stated, "America's great player Williams secured a victory in her comeback match after four years," and added, "Her performance, filled with the firepower that is her trademark, was impressive."

It further reported, "As Williams stepped onto the court, enthusiastic cheers poured out. She provided scenes that reminded the audience of her powerful WINNERS and her enduring serving power."

However, Williams herself gave her performance a low rating. When asked to evaluate her comeback match performance, she replied, "C-." She continued, "I was nervous about 30 minutes before the match, but afterward, I just let it go. Still, considering that I played a comeback match on a grass court, I think it was overall okay."

Williams' return to the court was greatly motivated by her two daughters. Her eight-year-old eldest daughter, Olympia, and her two-year-old second daughter, Adira, watched their mother's comeback victory from right in front of them. However, their daughters' reactions were extremely realistic. Williams said, "After the match, Adira wanted to go to a toy store, and Olympia was curious about what the dinner menu would be," which drew laughter.

Williams is drawing significant attention not only for her quarterfinals in this tournament but also for whether she will compete in Wimbledon, which will be held in London, UK, at the end of this month. Regarding this, Williams said, "I am focusing on each day, one day at a time. I still have a little time to decide." She added, "Wimbledon is also giving me sufficient time and space to make my own decision." Thus, she has not completely ruled out the possibility of returning to Wimbledon.

Reuters also focused on the possibility of Williams returning to Wimbledon. The outlet reported, "With Wimbledon just around the corner, Williams returning to the venue where she has won seven Grand Slam singles titles is an attractive scenario."

It further noted, "While Williams has been cautious about comments on her singles comeback, her participation in doubles alone would be a huge boost for Wimbledon's TV ratings," and predicted, "If she wishes to compete, there is a very high chance she will receive a wildcard."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.