Serena Williams

Serena Williams will return to Grand Slam tennis at Wimbledon after being granted a main draw wild-card slot in this year's field.

BREAKING:

Serena Williams has received a main draw wild card into #Wimbledon.

Williams has not played in a year, since retiring at 3-3 in the first set of her first round match at Wimbledon last year. pic.twitter.com/emk2skJiGh

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 14, 2022

Williams, who hasn't played since last year's Wimbledon tournament, hinted at a return on Instagram on Tuesday morning:

On Instagram, Serena Williams seems to indicate a return at #Wimbledon later this month.

Williams did not enter the singles main tournament at the deadline as she could have using a protected ranking, so we will have to wait and see what this means. pic.twitter.com/GD3Q4hUHQu

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 14, 2022

The 40-year-old tennis legend previously suggested she may play at the All England Club in an April social media post alongside Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers:

“We’ve been talking about my comeback!”

Serena Williams on her Instagram Story dispelling any assumptions that just because her longtime coach is working with someone else now, that doesn’t mean she’s done with tennis. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/kevz2yHO24

— Gibson Johns (@gibsonoma) April 7, 2022

She's provided limited updates about her recovery from a leg injury suffered early in her first-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich at Wimbledon last year.

Williams has motivation to make a comeback since she's one Grand Slam title away from tying Margaret Court for the most major singles titles in the sport's history (24). Her last triumph on one of the sport's biggest stages came at the 2017 Australian Open.

She's reached four Grand Slam finals since that title in Melbourne five years ago but has come up short on each occasion.

In March, Williams discussed the missed chances to overtake Court with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

"I should have been at like 30 or 32 [Grand Slam singles titles]," she said. "I should have had [the record], really, I've had many opportunities to have it. But I'm not giving up."

Williams has won Wimbledon seven times, most recently winning the grass-court tournament on back-to-back occasions in 2015 and 2016. She reached the final in 2018 and 2019.

Even if it takes her a while to regain top form and she doesn't make a deep Wimbledon run, getting Williams back on the WTA circuit would provide a boost heading into the U.S. Open Series over the summer.

That said, it's impossible to count her out at the All England Club given her past success.

It appears as if the Williams sisters will not participate in Wimbledon this year.

Tennis insider Ben Rothenberg reported both Serena and Venus Williams are not on the entry list for the major championship. He explained Serena could request a wild card but noted "it seems deeply unlikely that she will return for the event."

The question remains when and if they will return to the game, and Rothenberg noted Serena will drop from the WTA rankings in July if she doesn't participate in Wimbledon because it would be a full year since she competed.

Her last tournament was Wimbledon in 2021, although she retired during her round of 128 match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

If she is done, Serena will go down as arguably the best tennis player in history on either the men's or the women's side. She is a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, seven of which came at the famed Wimbledon.

There was a stretch in her career during which she seemed like a safer bet than the field for any tournament she entered, and she captured the title at Wimbledon in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016.

Venus has also enjoyed plenty of success throughout her career at tennis' most famous tournament.

Five of her seven Grand Slam singles championships came at Wimbledon, and she took home the title in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008.

Perhaps the Williams sisters will return to tennis at some point, but it doesn't seem like it will happen on the Wimbledon stage this year.

Serena Williams now has another record to add to her legendary list.

Goldin Auctions founder Ken Goldin tweeted that an autographed 2003 NetPro rookie card of Williams sold for $266,400 on Saturday night, setting a new record for a card featuring a female athlete. 

New record set for highest priced trading card of a female athlete last night @GoldinCo . This @serenawilliams 2003 NETPRO signed patch rookie card sold for $266,400 setting the new record. pic.twitter.com/0jGn4BpEXO

— Ken Goldin (@KenGoldin) May 22, 2022

According to The Athletic, the price of Williams' card more than doubled the previous record. The rookie card received a grade of PSA 8/Auto 10 and includes swatches of apparel she wore in a match.

Williams actually made her professional tennis debut in 1995, but 2003 was the first year that a set of NetPro tennis cards had been released in almost a decade.

The previous record for a women's trading card was $117,000, set this past January for a July 1999 SI For Kids Serena Williams rookie card. Another card of hers from that same set sold for over $91,000 on eBay in March. Prior to that, the record was set when an August 1992 SI For Kids Mia Hamm card sold for $34,440 in 2021.

The 2022 French Open men's and women's singles draws were revealed Friday, and two-time Roland Garros champion Novak Djokovic will face a difficult field as he aims to win his third title in Paris. 

Djokovic was drawn in the same half as Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in what is being viewed as the worst-case scenario for the Serbian. 

The 34-year-old, who did not play in the Australian Open, will begin the tournament against Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka, while Nadal will face Australia's Jordan Thompson and Alcaraz will face a qualifier to open things up.

Djokovic could end up meeting Nadal in the quarterfinal. If that happens, it will be one of the most intense matchups of the entire tournament as Nadal is aiming to win his record-extending 14th title at Roland Garros.

The other half of the men's draw is wide-open as Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev highlight the group. 

Roger Federer is a notable absence from the men's field at this year's tournament as he continues to recover from the knee surgery that he had last year. He also is unlikely to play at Wimbledon and told reporters in March that his return to the court probably won't come until late summer. 

Here is a full look at the men's draw:

Roland-Garros men's singles draw :#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/0UNzSnEkPR

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 19, 2022

The women's side is also expected to be competitive, though Poland's Iga Swiatek is the overwhelming favorite to win her second title at Roland Garros. That said, the 20-year-old could still face a tough matchup against Czechia's Karolina Pliskova in the quarterfinals.

However, Swiatek beat Pliskova last year by a double-bagel score at the Italian Open in Rome.  

Here is a look at the women's draw:

Roland-Garros women's singles draw : #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/nw6PiZBiuu

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 19, 2022

Aside from Swiatek, Paula Badosa, Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari, Anett Kontaveit and Barbora Krejcikova are projected to reach the quarterfinals. , Krejcikova, the defending French Open champion, hasn't played in more than two months because of an elbow injury.

Naomi Osaka, meanwhile, was dealt a pretty tough hand as she will open the French Open against American Amanda Anisimova, who eliminated her in January from the Australian Open in the third round. 

The women's tournament will look a little different this year with the absences of Ash Barty and Serena Williams. Barty, the 2019 French Open champion, announced her retirement from tennis in March.

Meanwhile, Williams, a three-time champion at Roland Garros, is missing the tournament for the first time since 2017 and it's unclear when she might return to the court. 

The first round of the French Open will begin Sunday and runs through June 5. 

Serena Williams hinted during an Instagram story video alongside Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers that she would be making her comeback at Wimbledon.

"We've been talking about my comeback, and he's been hyping me up and getting me ready for Wimbledon," she said (h/t CNN's Jacob Lev). "Can't wait!"

We can't wait to see you back on the court! 🙌

(via @serenawilliams) pic.twitter.com/NbADyj11aq

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) April 7, 2022

Rodgers than asked why Serena wouldn't be participating at the U.S. Open. 

"Wimbledon's before the U.S. Open, I've got to play Wimbledon first," she responded. "Exciting!"

The video ended with Rodgers pointing at Williams and exclaiming, "She's back."

The 40-year-old last played in the 2021 Wimbledon tournament, retiring from her first-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich after slipping and injuring her leg. 

"I was heartbroken to have to withdraw today after injuring my right leg," she wrote at the time on Instagram. "My love and gratitude are with the fans and the team who make being on centre court so meaningful. Feeling the extraordinary warmth and support of the crowd today when I walked on—and off—the court meant the world to me."

Williams has dominated women's tennis throughout her career, and her 23 grand slam titles trails only Margaret Court (24). Her seven Wimbledon titles is tied for the third most in the history of the tournament with Steffi Graf and Dorothea Lambert Chambers.

But she hasn't one a grand slam since the 2017 Australian Open and has won just one singles title in the past five years. 

It's natural that Williams' torrid pace has slowed in the twilight of her career, as injury issues and other factors have affected her career. But she hasn't lost the competitive drive or the desire to catch and pass Court. 

"I should have been at like 30 or 32 (grand slam singles titles)," she told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in March. "I should have had it (the record), really, I've had many opportunities to have it. But I'm not giving up."

This year was a pretty good one for Super Bowl commercials, with a few classics, an ad that will get a lot of people talking and a few trailers for some promising movies.

Serena Willams stole the show in this Michelob Ultra ad, which takes place in a rustic, classic bowling alley.

The ad features numerous athletes bowling, including Nneka Ogwumike, Alex Morgan, Jimmy Butler and Peyton Manning. Brooks Koepka is also seen at the pool table.

Actor Steve Buscemi, who played the part of Donny Kerabatsos in The Big Lebowski, is also seen working behind the counter.

All of them stop what they are doing when Serena, a 22-major winner, walks in the door.

It was an important ad for numerous reasons.

There are kids watching the Super Bowl tonight who just saw Serena Williams treated as the athletic equal of Peyton Manning after Billie Jean King did the coin toss. The visibility matters.

— Jane McManus (@janesports) February 14, 2022

michelob wins. they had SERENA, peyton, nneka, jimmy butler, and alex morgan. that was perfect.

— whitney medworth (@its_whitney) February 14, 2022

BREAKING: Michelob ULTRA continues $100M commitment to support gender equality in sports with new #SuperBowl spot starring:

Serena Williams
Peyton Manning
Nneka Ogwumike
Brooks Koepka
Alex Morgan
Jimmy Butlerhttps://t.co/RS0IlnhjFX

— MICHAEL EHRLICH (@MichaelEhrlich) February 8, 2022

Elsewhere, fans of the classic HBO show Sopranos undoubtedly loved this commercial for the new all-electric Chevy Silverado.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bZYqFsU72Y

The bulk of the ad is a callback to the show's intro, which featured Tony Soprano (actor James Gandolfini) driving in New Jersey to his home.

This time around, his television daughter Meadow Soprano (actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler) is doing the driving. The end of the ad features her parking on the curb, much like when Meadow had trouble parallel parking in the closing scenes of the entire series.

This time around, she pulls right in and greets her Sopranos brother, A.J. (Robert Iler).

It was clearly one of the best ads of the night.

That Silverado commercial is SOPRANOS canon.

— Sean Fennessey (@SeanFennessey) February 14, 2022

good to see after all these years Meadow Soprano finally learned how to park.

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 14, 2022

oh my god sopranos commercial wins too. that hug 😭

— Jessica Smetana (@jessica_smetana) February 14, 2022

The ad that got people talking the most was Coinbase's QR code commercial, which featured a QR code bouncing around the screen a la a 1990s-era screensaver:

ICYMI 👀

Now that we have your attention we'd like to announce that we're giving away $15 in BTC to anyone who joins Coinbase by 2/15.

Click below for more info and RT to tell your friends!

Sign up and see terms here → https://t.co/fKHisXZJJc pic.twitter.com/SDWUup2Ql5

— Coinbase 🛡️ (@coinbase) February 14, 2022

That elicited a variety of reactions and comments:

Coinbase just spent $14 million for a color-changing QR code to bounce around on the screen for 30-seconds during the Super Bowl…

And the website crashed.

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) February 14, 2022

That Coinbase commercial was brilliant.

— Jack “CouRage” Dunlop (@CouRageJD) February 14, 2022

Coinbase with the smartest use of a commercial spot ever https://t.co/hu5uLXhNEX

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) February 14, 2022

Coinbase spending $16,000,000 on a Superbowl ad to direct people to their website and $0 to make sure that website doesn't crash 10 seconds after the ad starts is so very internet.

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) February 14, 2022

Hi, it's me, member of a supposedly evolved species who spent 30 seconds chasing the CoinBase QR code around the screen with his phone camera like a cat watching a goldfish swimming in a bowl. #SuperBowl

— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) February 14, 2022

The Coinbase commercial with just the QR code, and no dialogue or context, was kinda bold. They basically said “we only trynna sell to people who actually know what this is.”

— Carmen Rodgers (@CarmenRodgers) February 14, 2022

A few huge movie trailers also were introduced to an audience of millions, with Jordan Peele's NOPE taking centerstage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs1HA1rBdGI

Peele, who delivered massive hits with Get Out and Us, appears to have another one with Nope.

Naturally, there's plenty of excitement.

“from jordan peele” are maybe the three most exciting movie trailer words

— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) February 14, 2022

I just love what Jordan Peele’s movies feel like, down to “Fingertips (Part 2),” one of the most electrifying pop recordings ever. Can’t wait for this. pic.twitter.com/mx54cMBDmj

— Sean Fennessey (@SeanFennessey) February 13, 2022

https://twitter.com/RICHARDLNEWBY/status/1492873025439649793

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness might end up being the biggest box-office hit of 2022.

https://twitter.com/DrStrange/status/1493000412042989568

The big news is the voice of Patrick Stewart's Professor X seems to be heard in the trailer, which got people excited:

Patrick Stewart back? Oh hell yes. https://t.co/nAVGqNqgcs

— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) February 13, 2022

That could be just one surprise in store, though:

Marvel is known to not spoil their movies in their marketing so if we got THAT MUCH in the new trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness imagine what else they have in store…

— Matt Ramos (@therealsupes) February 14, 2022

As for the game, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.

Tennis star Serena Williams has called for an investigation into the disappearance of Chinese player Peng Shuai:

I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time. #whereispengshuai pic.twitter.com/GZG3zLTSC6

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) November 18, 2021

Peng made headlines in early November when she alleged Zhang Gaoli, the former Vice Premier of China, forced her into a sexual relationship in a since-deleted social media post, via BBC.

The 35-year-old has not been seen or heard from since, with the exception of an email Chinese state media reported she wrote which said the allegations were not true and she is simply resting at home.

WTA chairman Steve Simon released a statement Wednesday alleging the email was fake:

I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received or believes what is being attributed to her. Peng Shuai displayed incredible courage in describing an allegation of sexual assault against a former top official in the Chinese government. The WTA and the rest of the world need independent and verifiable proof that she is safe. I have repeatedly tried to reach her via numerous forms of communication, to no avail.

Peng reached as high as No. 1 in the world in doubles in 2014, winning 2013 Wimbledon and 2014 French Open. She has also been a consistent competitor in singles competitions, reaching the semifinals of the 2014 U.S. Open.

Several top tennis players have tried to bring attention to the situation, including Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic. 

Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam winner with more than 10 million followers on Twitter, should further help shine a spotlight on the issue.

Serena Williams ended her long boycott of Indian Wells Tennis Garden in 2015, but the tennis legend hasn't forgotten the incident that led her to stay away from the venue for more than a decade.

During an appearance on Red Table Talk (via ESPN.com's D'Arcy Maine), Williams said competing in the 2015 BNP Paribas Open presented some difficulty:

Even when I went back 14 years later, it was very traumatizing. Talk about post-traumatic stress and mental anxiety. I remember sitting in the bathroom, thinking 'Wait, I'm not gonna go back. I just don't think I should do this. What if they start booing again?' It was really hard for me.

Williams beat Kim Clijsters in the final of the 2001 Indian Wells Masters, her second title there in three years. However, it was far from a joyous occasion due to the reaction she was generating from the crowd.

Despite Williams being a Southern California native, the fans loudly cheered for Clijsters throughout the match.

Richard Williams also said he was called the N-word as he and his daughter, Venus, were walking to their seats in the stadium.

"One guy said, 'I wish it was '75; we'd skin you alive,'" he told USA Today's Doug Smith. "That's when I stopped and walked toward that way. Then I realized that [my] best bet was to handle the situation non-violently. I had trouble holding back tears. I think Indian Wells disgraced America."

Serena also had to contend with an allegation from Elena Dementieva, whom Venus defeated in the quarterfinals, that Richard would decide the outcome of any match between the Williams sisters before they played.

In a February 2015 essay for Time, Williams said she planned on returning to Indian Wells, expressing a desire to "write a different ending" at the tournament. She received a loud ovation while walking onto the court for her second-round match with Monica Niculescu.

Because of what it represented, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion told Sports Illustrated's S.L. Price in December 2015 that competing again at Indian Wells might have been the greatest moment of her career.

Count Serena Williams among those looking forward to seeing Naomi Osaka back on the tennis court.

Williams recently discussed Osaka's potential return in an interview with TMZ Sports:

"Oh my goodness," Williams said. "It's gonna be amazing. I can't wait."

Osaka had been focusing on her mental health and stepped away from the sport after a third-round loss in the U.S. Open in early September.

"I'm kind of at this point where I'm trying to figure out what I want to do and honestly don't know when I'm going to play my next tennis match," she told reporters in September.

The former No. 1 player in the world had also withdrawn from the French Open and Wimbledon.

Osaka announced on Instagram earlier this month that she was back at training, building anticipation for her eventual return to competitive events.

Emma Raducanu is 18 years old, made her WTA Tour main draw event debut in June and has appeared in two Grand Slam tournaments. 

And now she's won one of them. 

The burgeoning Great Britain star won the U.S. Open final on Saturday, besting 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3. 

This match is incredible 🔥#USOpen pic.twitter.com/V6pXIwOWRK

— espnW (@espnW) September 11, 2021

What a first set 😤

Emma Raducanu takes it 6-4 at the #USOpen pic.twitter.com/KIbcwgIElG

— ESPN (@espn) September 11, 2021

It cannot be overstated how shocking her win was on Saturday. Raducanu immediately enters the realm of all-time incredible Cinderella stories in sports history. 

First time in my life I’ve ever tweeted whilst on air but my goodness what a performance, what a triumph, what an amazing young woman. Congratulations @EmmaRaducanu on a truly staggering achievement. US Open winner at 18 without losing a set. Extraordinarily fabulous. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 11, 2021

Amazing, the best story in British sport for years. Emma Raducanu, you legend!!!

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) September 11, 2021

Emma Raducanu has to be the greatest most unexpected British sporting success of all time.
From the qualifying rounds to #usopen glory without dropping a set in 10 matches.

And incredibly her first WTA tour title at 18 is a Grand Slam

— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) September 11, 2021

18-year old Emma Raducanu of Great Britain becomes the most unlikely Grand Slam champion in the history of tennis, beating Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the final. She didn't lose a set int he entire tournament. Absolutely stunning.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) September 11, 2021

What a story. We use unbelievable way too easily as a description for something but what Emma Raducanu has done the last two weeks does defy belief. She was unknown a few months ago and she just won the US Open without dropping a set.

— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) September 11, 2021

Raducanu didn't just win the U.S. Open—she dominated it in an unprecedented fashion. She didn't lose a set, winning 20 in a row, and breezed through opponents with brisk, ruthless efficiency. 

At an hour and 25 minutes, this became the longest match Raducanu has played in the #USOpen main draw.

Lolz.

This is the most absurd tournament anyone has ever had, let's be real.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 11, 2021

Raducanu's record, relentless #USOpen run:

Q1 d. Schoofs 6-1, 6-2
Q2 d. Bolkvadze 6-3, 7-5
Q3 d. Sherif 6-1, 6-4

R1 d. Voegele 6-2, 6-3
R2 d. Zhang 6-2, 6-4
R3 d. Sorribes Tormo 6-0, 6-1
R4 d. Rogers 6-2, 6-1
QF d. Bencic 6-3, 6-4
SF d. Sakkari 6-1, 6-4
F d. Fernandez 6-4, 6-3

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 11, 2021

Raducanu is hardly the youngest women's player to ever win a Grand Slam. Martina Hingis (1997), Monica Seles (1990) and Tracy Austin (1979) all did so as 16-year-olds, but in the era of Serena Williams' dominance, younger players breaking through became a rarity. 

Of the youth movement to recently pull off the feat—Bianca Andreescu (2019 U.S. Open) and Iga Swiatek (2020 French Open) were each 19, Naomi Osaka (2018 U.S. Open) was 20 and Sofia Kenin (2020 Australian Open) was 21—Raducanu might be the most unlikely. 

She came into the U.S. Open ranked 150th in the world and had to go through three qualifier matches. Again, she made her WTA debut in June. 

Oh, and she became the first British woman to win the U.S. Open since 1968 (Virginia Wade) and the first British woman to win any Grand Slam title since Wade won Wimbledon in 1977.  

There's no doubt that tennis has a new young star. Two, really, considering that Fernandez knocked off No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 defending champ Naomi Osaka and No. 5 Elina Svitolina to reach the final. 

The future might belong to both of these young players. Saturday, though, belonged to Raducanu, a champion nobody predicted but one who not soon be forgotten.