All indicators level to 44-year-old Serena Williams taking part in in her first US Open in 4 years subsequent month.
“Her intention is to maintain taking part in, together with the U.S. Open,” Renee Stubbs, one of many coaches of the 23-time Grand Slam champion, stated Tuesday at Wimbledon, every week after Serena misplaced her first singles match since 2022.
Williams injured her proper knee throughout a three-set loss to Maya Joynt on the All England Membership and withdrew from Saturday’s doubles match together with her sister Venus.
Williams shared an Instagram replace over the weekend that included a picture of 4 syringes stuffed with fluid draining from her knee.
“So long as she’s bodily ready, which I hope will probably be within the subsequent few weeks, we might wish to get her again on the courtroom and hitting balls,” Stubbs stated.
The US Open major draw singles begins on August thirtieth.
“All I can say is, have a look at town close to you,” Selena stated after her dying.
Williams was training at doubles nice Bob Bryan’s membership in Florida earlier this yr.
“She did not give away an excessive amount of data, however there have been 12 rackets on her. … So we knew she was severe,” Bryan advised The Related Press. “I hope she will get wholesome and might run this summer time. She’ll undoubtedly win once more. She’s a champion.”
Williams performed solely two doubles matches earlier than Wimbledon, however didn’t seem in singles. I hope she performs extra singles matches earlier than the US Open.
If Williams needed, he should not have any downside getting a wild-card invitation from event organizers for the U.S. Open pre-season tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati, Ohio.
“I do know it’s one thing she would like to do, to play one thing earlier than the U.S. Open,” Stubbs stated. “However on the identical time, it is going to depend upon how she is bodily.”
“The excellent news is my knee will not swell once more or gather as a lot fluid,” Williams stated in a social media publish about his harm.
Nonetheless, Stubbs says that was extra of an element in opposition to the Joint than many individuals realized.
“She whispered to me, ‘If my knee had been higher, I may have received,'” Stubbs stated. “Main as much as the event, she was taking part in in a follow set (and) beating gamers who had been nonetheless within the event. I will not say which gamers as a result of I do not wish to embarrass them, however she was taking part in nicely.”
Regardless of being away for thus lengthy, Williams nonetheless delivered the identical heavy groundstrokes of outdated, hitting serves over 190 mph and touchdown inside inches of the baseline.
“She whispered to me, ‘If solely my knee had been higher, I may have received.'” Main as much as the event, she was taking part in in follow units (and) beating gamers who had been nonetheless within the event. I will not say which of them as a result of I do not wish to embarrass them, however she was taking part in nicely.”
Renee Stubbs, one among Serena Williams’ coaches
The one downside was her motion.
“It is actually miraculous that she made it this far within the match contemplating how unhealthy her knee was,” Stubbs stated. “She was rubbing her ft each time she modified ends. … So I knew one thing was happening that was somewhat uncommon for her.
“However the truth that she bought via it and bought out on the courtroom and nobody seen was fairly miraculous. And it additionally reveals how excessive her ache tolerance is.”
After the grass at Wimbledon, the onerous courts of the US Open, the place she has received six singles titles, may very well be extra advantageous for Williams.
“Everybody noticed that her customary was nonetheless fairly good, so as soon as she will get on the onerous courts, she’ll be much more constant,” Stubbs stated. “Everyone knows how nicely she will be able to play on onerous courts, so it is only a matter of getting her physique again into the form she desires it to be.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
