Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed. Iga Świątek is the defending champion. Only one of the other 32 seeds (Elena Rybakina) has won the title. And it’s all just details, at least in Week 1. Why? Because—and maybe you’ve heard this—at 44, Serena Williams has decided to revisit tennis, playing her first sanctioned singles match since 2022.
This is some combination of Michael Jordan playing for the Wizards, Tom Brady unretiring and Mike Tyson still fighting. Wimbledon could be a one-off for Serena, or it could be the start of another championship. We all know the head-to-head record of time and biology, but if they are undefeated, they also can be deferred. Serena could lose to a player half her age, uncowed by the prospect—maybe even motivated by the prospect—of facing a legend. She could also face a scared or stupefied opponent, start dialing in 120 mph serves, and move around the court unencumbered.
