Serena Williams, at 44, made her return to Wimbledon this week. In a special podcast for Firstpost, Sania commended Serena’s remarkable comeback to tennis after motherhood.
“If at 44, with two kids, she [Serena] can return to her previous level, there should be no dispute over who the greatest athlete in the world is,” Sania remarked.
Serena Williams boasts 13 Wimbledon titles, including 7 in singles and 6 in doubles. Her highly anticipated return to Wimbledon singles ended with a first-round loss to 20-year-old Maya Joint from Australia.
Sania, who also returned to professional sports after giving birth to her son in 2018, mentioned that she understands both the physical and mental challenges of making a comeback.
Sania rejoined the WTA Tour in 2020 and claimed the doubles title at the Hobart International during her very first tournament back, demonstrating that motherhood does not signal the end of an athlete’s career.
Sania asserts that Serena’s challenges are on a completely different level.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion stepped away from the game after having her daughters and has been frequently speculated to return to competitive tennis.
“Serena Williams is returning because she believes she can still achieve what she did before. Whether she succeeds or not will not diminish her status as a champion and her existing legacy,” Sania stated.
For Sania Mirza, Serena’s greatness goes beyond her Grand Slam titles or records. It is her resilience, longevity, and ability to compete with the best in the world, despite the challenges of age and motherhood, that set her apart from other athletes.
Previously, Serena participated in the WTA 500 event at Queen’s Club in London, which is often viewed as a preparatory event for Wimbledon.
In a statement, Serena expressed: “Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to kick off this next chapter. Grass has provided some of the most significant moments of my career, and I’m thrilled to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.”
