Serena seeks eighth Wimbledon crown to cap another comeback

Germany’s experienced Angelique Kerber stands in the way of the 36-year-old American and an eighth, and arguably most impressive, All England Club singles crown which would see her match Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles. 

Williams, seeded 25th after her maternity break, would not be the first player to take time off to have a baby and return to win Wimbledon but it has not happened for 38 years since Australian Evonne Goolagong beat American Chris Evert in 1980. 

It did not happen again in any Grand Slam until Belgian Kim Clijsters won the 2009 U.S. Open after having daughter Jada. But it has not even been a year since Williams spent six days in hospital after giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia by emergency C-section and then needing surgery to prevent blood clots entering her lungs with potentially fatal consequences. 

Even for a player who missed eight months due to knee surgery after her 2003 Wimbledon win, another six in 2006, which she later blamed on depression, and had a year out after lacerating her foot on broken glass following her 2010 Wimbledon triumph, this comeback has perhaps been her biggest challenge.

Williams became the oldest woman to win Wimbledon two years ago, beating Kerber in what was their last meeting. Six months later she surpassed Steffi Graf’s Open era record of Grand Slam titles by winning the Australian Open while pregnant, before signing off for maternity leave. Unbeaten here since 2014, Williams is on a 20-match winning streak on the lawns.