Former world No. 7 Barbara Schett said she was positively surprised whensaw that Serena Williams was coming back as she has warned that no player will want to face the 23-time Grand Slam champion at Wimbledon. On Tuesday, Williams took to Instagram reveal her plans to compete at Wimbledon.
Williams has been sidelined for the past 12 month but now it is clear that she plans to give tennis another shot before retiring. On the same day, Wimbledon announced Williams as a main draw wildcard recipient. “I couldn’t believe it,” Schett told Eurosport.
“I was going through my Instagram account, and then suddenly I see the post from Serena Williams.”
Schett: Nobody will want to play Williams
Williams hasn’t played in a year but she is a seven-time Wimbledon champion and The All England Club is the place where she traditionally plays well.
Schett acknowledged that it won’t be easy for Williams to play well right from the jump because she is coming off a long break, but still feels the American will be the player nobody will want to face. “I think if you’re out for a whole year, it’s very difficult because you’re not playing any matches,” Schett added.
“Even if you only practise a lot. It’s not the same. But one thing is for sure, nobody wants to play against Serena Williams, so the other 127 players are going to be scared to draw Serena Williams. I think with her game style, she has a big serve.
If she has been practising, that will help her a lot. But the matter is, how is her movement going to be on the grass court? But we all know that’s the hardest area, the hardest surface to actually move [on]. And I think we [will] get a better idea when she plays that first match.
But I’m sure she’s going to be very rusty. Plus, she’s 40 years old, which for a tennis player is quite old, unfortunately”.
