Venus and Serena Williams are set to grace the hallowed lawns of Wimbledon together once again, reviving their legendary doubles partnership. The news of their wildcard entry into the grass-court Major has not only sent fans into a frenzy but also sparked excitement from current stars and tennis legends, including Naomi Osaka and Monica Seles.
Naomi Osaka and Tennis World Celebrate Venus and Serena Williams’ Wimbledon Return
Venus and Serena Williams last shared the court at the 2022 US Open, the tournament that marked the end of the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s illustrious career. However, Serena recently made a surprise return to professional tennis at the Queen’s Club Championships, teaming up with rising star Victoria Mboko.
The duo enjoyed a dream start to their campaign, stunning No. 3 seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in their opening match. They were unable to contest their quarterfinal showdown, though, as Mboko was forced to pull out of the tournament after sustaining a knee injury.
Serena has since turned her attention to her campaign at the Berlin Open alongside partner Karolina Muchova. Hours before their tournament opener, the tennis world was shaken by a blockbuster Wimbledon announcement, which included Venus and Serena as the only non-British pairing to receive a women’s doubles wildcard.
The sisters boast a remarkable legacy at the grass-court Major. In addition to winning a combined 12 Grand Slam singles titles at SW19, Venus and Serena have also claimed six women’s doubles trophies, as well as a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
The announcement of their return to the familiar hunting grounds sent waves of excitement through the tennis community, with Osaka making her enthusiasm known.
“And I will be seated,” she posted.
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Tennis legend Monica Seles also expressed her delight at the prospect of Venus and Serena’s Wimbledon reunion.
“Thrilled to see this happening and can’t wait for their first match!” Seles said.
Eugenie Bouchard, meanwhile, could barely believe her eyes upon seeing the announcement.
“We live in a simulation 😍😍,” Bouchard posted on X.
“have we gone back in time?! 😍,” she commented further.
The news also caught the attention of Andy Roddick’s wife, model and actress Brooklyn Decker.
The joy extended beyond the tennis world, with WNBA star Angel Reese and acclaimed songwriter and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda welcoming the duo’s return.
“OMFG YESSSS🤍🫂😩♥️ i can’t wait,” Reese commented.
“😭😭😭👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽,” Miranda posted.
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Ahead of her Wimbledon return alongside sister Venus, Serena Williams opened her Berlin Open campaign with partner Karolina Muchova. However, the pair’s run was short-lived, as Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory in their first-round clash.