Serena Williams teases return to competitive tennis, says Tom Brady ‘started a really cool trend’
Serena Williams announced her return to competitive tennis last week, saying she’ll seek to regain her Grand Slams. The former world No. 1 is gearing up for her 18th major tournament, the Australian Open which begins Monday. During an interview with the sports network ESPN, Williams said she wants to reclaim her tennis career.
The 32-year-old from Flushing, New York said: “I really missed competing. I missed competing and it really gave me the confidence in myself, which I thought was missing for so long, that’s why I decided to make this comeback.” She also reiterated the importance of not letting criticism get to her.
“I will never let the negativity get in my way of what I think I can provide and what I feel I can do. I’m going to keep doing the things I’ve been doing,” she said. “When that time comes and it’s time to hit a tennis ball, I will be back.”
Williams made history back in 2015 when she became the first woman to win six Grand Slam singles titles. She will be seeking to repeat her feat on the court during her return.
Williams is not the first player to turn her body into a weapon. In the 1990s, her mother was very vocal about how she wanted Serena to get back onto the court, saying on the Wimbledon tennis tour: “Every time they do that, she will be back.”
The former two-time champion added: “I believe she’s able to overcome it; she’s going to be back.”
The first major tournaments of the 2016-17 season will be the French Open, the US Open, the Wimbledon Championships, and the U.S. Open. Serena Williams is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, meaning she would take the top spot at the French Open if she were to have another great season on the court.
According to a report by the BBC, Williams expressed confidence that she’ll be able to successfully return to competitive
