The eagerly awaited return of Serena Williams in the Fed Cup should have been one to celebrate. Instead the presence of the former world No.1 has created more questions than answers.
Williams hasn’t played a competitive match on the WTA Tour since winning her 23rd grand slam title at the Australian Open 13 months ago. Since then, she has given birth to her first child in September and married her partner, Alexis Ohanian. During her absence from the tour, Williams’ only taste of competition was an exhibition match against Jelena Ostapenko at the start of the year. Which she lost in three sets.
The scene was set for the 36-year-old to burst back on the scene this weekend when Team USA take on the Netherlands on home soil. However, as it currently stands, Williams will not feature in a singles match. Instead, she will concentrate on the doubles competition alongside Madison Keys.
“Why not Fed Cup? It’s a great opportunity to get, I mean, a new set of eyes on what I’ve been doing with Kathy,” she said about her comeback on Friday.
“Also just hitting with different people, just seeing different balls, seeing lots of different things. I think it actually is a really perfect opportunity to try to come back.”
Under competition rules, she could potentially play a singles match on Sunday if team captain Kathy Rinaldi chooses to. Despite having a triumphant 20-year career in the sport, this week is only Williams’ 10th participation in a Fed Cup tie and her first since 2015.
“There’s been a lot of ups and downs in the practice,” she explains.
“It also gives me another view, it’s almost relaxing for me as I have nothing to prove. Again, just fighting against all odds to be out there again, to be competing again.”
Where is she heading?
Now at the starting line of her comeback to the tour, few know which direction Williams is heading towards. Going into 2018, there was talk that she would begin her comeback at the Australian Open, but she was unable to fully prepare in time. The uncertainty continues with the American, who admits that she is unsure about which grand slam tournaments she will play this year.
“I don’t know. Right now I’m focused on this weekend and after that I’ll figure out what it might be.” She replied when asked about participating in this year’s French Open.
Williams is just two major titles away from becoming the most decorated singles champion – man or woman – in grand slam history.
The vague comments about her future plans comes as no surprise given what she has gone through. Shortly after welcoming the arrival of her first child via c-section, she became ill. Dealing with blood clots on her lungs as well as and her wound (from the surgery) opening back up. In total, she was bed bound for six weeks.
Should all go to plan, Williams will return to action on Sunday at the US Cellular Arena in Asheville. She has unfinished business to deal with, but remains a mystery as to how she is going to do it.
