By: Evan Yang

After a year-long absence from major tennis tournaments, Serena Williams, a tennis legend, has decided to return for her twenty-first Wimbledon. However, this is no ordinary tournament for Williams. At 40 years old and without having played a singles match since injuring herself last year, this is an especially important tournament for Williams.

Williams has been sidelined since last year’s Wimbledon, when she faced Aliaksandra Sasnovich. She lost her footing on the grass court, tearing her hamstring. After this devasting setback, many speculated about whether she would retire. Despite these theories, Williams had no intention of letting that match be her last.

“I didn’t retire,” she says. “I just needed to heal physically, mentally … I just didn’t know when I would come back.”

Her injury was not the only reason she did not return, though. Her daughter Olympia, now four years old, her business undertakings, and the movie she helped produce (King Richard) have also occupied her time.

Another change this year is her coach. Williams is now being coached by Eric Hechtman, a former University of Miami player who also coaches Venus Williams. This follows a split from her longtime coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who is now working with the formerly number one-ranked Simona Halep. Both Williams and her coach understand the obstacles in their way but have no intention of backing down. Hechtman says, “Just like I think anybody that walks into the tournament, their goal is to win the vent. And that’s our goal.”

Williams’ first match at Wimbledon is scheduled to be against France’s Harmony Tan.