Serena Williams opens up on comeback after surprising split from coach

Miami, Florida - Serena Williams appeared to shut down premature talk of calling time on her tennis career by sharing her hopes to return from injury in time for Wimbledon.

Serena Williams last played during the first round of the 2021 Wimbledon Grand Slam tennis tournament.
Serena Williams last played during the first round of the 2021 Wimbledon Grand Slam tennis tournament.  © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

The 40-year-old tennis superstar has not played competitively since retiring from her match with Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round of last year's British grand slam tournament.

Williams is currently ranked 246th in the world.

Her future in the sport was called into question on Thursday when her long-time coach Patrick Mouratoglou announced he will now work with another former number one, Simona Halep on a full-time basis.

Lizzo adopts "body neutrality" with new swimwear launch
Lizzo Lizzo adopts "body neutrality" with new swimwear launch

However, the 23-time major winner – who has been coached by Mouratoglou since 2012 – has moved to confirm her intention to return to top-level tennis in the coming months.

Speaking alongside Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at a bitcoin event in Miami, Williams said "We've been talking about my comeback and he's [Rodgers] been hyping me up."

"He's getting me ready for Wimbledon. Can't wait!"

Williams is one major title shy of matching Margaret Court's long-standing record of 24, having been beaten in four finals since her most recent triumph at the 2017 Australian Open.

She missed last year's US Open on home soil, as well as the 2022 Australian Open in January.

Rodgers was surprised at Williams' Wimbledon announcement and asked "What about the US Open?", to which the ex-world number one replied, "Wimbledon is first."

The grass-court grand slam gets under way on June 27.

Cover photo: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

More on Serena Williams: