Serena Williams will end her four-year hiatus from Wimbledon after being handed a wild card to play in this year’s doubles draw alongside sister Venus.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion returned to competitive tennis last week at the HSBC Championships in London, where she won her opening match before her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, had to withdraw due to injury. She is continuing her comeback this week in Berlin, teaming up with Karolina Muchova.
There have been high expectations that Williams would be handed a pass into the Grand Slam. The American is one of the most decorated players in the tournament’s history with 14 titles to her name – seven in singles, six in doubles and one in mixed doubles. Coincidentally, the Williams sisters are the only female players in the Open Era to win any Wimbledon title as wild cards, clinching the doubles title in 2000 and 2002.
However, neither of the Williams sisters is named in the initial list of wild cards for the singles tournament. Six Brits have secured the sport, as well as French Open breakout Maja Chwalińska. At Roland Garros, Chwalińska stunned the draw to reach the final and is now ranked 21st in the world. She was outside the top 100 when the Wimbledon entry list was finalised.
In the men’s draw, Grigor Dimitrov has been given a pass following his heartbreaking exit 12 months ago. Taking on Jannik Sinner in the fourth round, Dimitrov had a two-set lead before tearing his pectoral muscle and retiring. Since then, the Bulgarian has struggled on Tour and is currently on a seven-match losing streak coming into this week.
Stan Wawrinka has also been given a wild card in what is his final season on the Tour. The three-time Grand Slam champion has reached the quarter-finals at SW19 twice. Home players Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery, Jack Pinnington Jones and Toby Samuel have also been given a wild card.
Wimbledon still has to announce three more wild cards for the singles tournaments – two in the men’s and one in the women’s events. It is understood that former finalist Matteo Berrettini is one of those bidding for a spot.
Wild cards are decided by the Wimbledon committee.
List on Wimbledon wild cards (singles only)
WOMEN
Harriet Dart GBR
Alicia Dudeney GBR
Hannah Klugman GBR
Mika Stojsavljevic GBR
Katie Swan GBR
Mimi Xu GBR
Maja Chwalinska POL
MEN
Grigor Dimitrov BUL
Jacob Fearnley GBR
Arthur Fery GBR
Jack Pinnington Jones GBR
Toby Samuel GBR
Stan Wawrinka SWI
