MY ACCOUNT
Serena Williams will find it “super difficult” to challenge for an eighth Wimbledon singles title when she returns to SW19 next week, according to Karolina Pliskova.
Williams announced her participation at Wimbledon after receiving a wildcard last week, having been absent since a first-round retirement against Aliaksandra Sasnovich at The All England Club last year.
The American great will team up with Ons Jabeur to play doubles at Eastbourne over the coming days as the 40-year-old prepares for her Wimbledon return.
But Pliskova, who lost last year’s Wimbledon final to Ashleigh Barty, says Williams could struggle to match her previous exploits after coming back from a long-term leg injury.
“I don’t know how long it has been since she has played. Has it been a year? It is a long time, and she is not the youngest any more, so I suppose the body also takes some time to get back into shape,” Pliskova said ahead of her own campaign at Eastbourne.
“Playing matches at tournaments is still very different to just practising and from what I understand, she is not playing [singles] here, she is just playing doubles.
“I think it will be difficult, super difficult for her, no matter what kind of player she is because this is a thing where you still need some time.
“But of course, she is an amazing player, she achieved so much and still a number of players will be super scared to play her. This is her advantage but let’s see the level. I cannot really say.”
Pliskova has won two of her three grand slam meetings with Williams, eliminating her at the quarter-final stage at the 2019 Australian Open and in the final four at the 2016 US Open.
While the world number seven may have cast doubt upon Williams’ chances, Paula Badosa is not keen on the prospect of facing the 23-time major champion on the grass.
“I think it surprised everyone but it’s very good to have her back. It really amazes me how she has all this hunger for the game,” the world number four said.
“It is a great inspiration. It is nice to have her back and I hope she can be back for much more time because I think she does very good for tennis.
“But the other side, of course I don’t want to play against her! I hope the draw goes for another player because no one wants to play against Serena and [even] less on grass. Let’s pray for that!”
