2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli has made it clear that Serena Williams can never be underestimated at Wimbledon. Williams, 40, took a wildcard into Wimbledon as she plans to compete again following a 12-month absence.
Williams is a seven-time Wimbledon champion but some are doubting whether she can make a deep run at The All England Club this year. In the summer of 2016, Roger Federer underwent a knee surgery. When Federer returned in 2017, he was extremely doubted – but he went on to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon that year.
Then in early 2018, Federer defended his Australian Open crown. “I don't believe it, the debates remind me of those when Federer returned in 2017. No one thought he was going to win Grand Slam tournaments again, yet he won 3,” Bartoli said on the Les Grandes Gueules du Sport podcast, as quoted on Sportskeeda.
Bartoli: Williams could do well at Wimbledon
“If she is in good physical shape, she can absolutely go for a result. She has such a margin compared to the others,” Bartoli added. Barbara Schett, who works for Eurosport as a tennis expert, acknowledged that returning at the age of 40 is never ideal but underlined one thing – Williams is a big name and nobody will want to play her.
“I think if you're out for a whole year, it's very difficult because you're not playing any matches,” Schett said. “Even if you only practise a lot. It's not the same. But one thing is for sure, nobody wants to play against Serena Williams, so the other 127 players are going to be scared to draw Serena Williams.
I think with her game style, she has a big serve. If she has been practising, that will help her a lot.” Williams has always been extremely dangerous on grass and she will definitely have her chances if she is fit enough.
