Serena Williams’ Berlin doubles run with Karolina Muchova ended in a first-round defeat, but the day still brought major positive news for the 23-time Grand Slam champion as Wimbledon confirmed a doubles wildcard for her and sister Venus.
Competing at the Berlin Tennis Open on Tuesday, Williams teamed up with Karolina Muchova but fell 6-4 6-4 in the first round to Erin Routliffe and Giuliana Olmos. On the same day, Wimbledon announced that Serena and her sister Venus Williams have been awarded a doubles wildcard, paving the way for another appearance by the iconic duo at the All England Club.
Serena, 44, returned to competition at Queen’s last week, four years after what many believed would be the final match of her career at the 2022 US Open. She opened her comeback with a doubles victory alongside Victoria Mboko before the Canadian was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.
It was encouraging that Williams quickly found a new partner in Muchova, but the pair were unable to advance beyond the opening round at the WTA 500 grass-court tournament in Berlin. At Wimbledon, which begins on Monday, June 29, Serena will team up with her legendary sister, with whom she has already won six doubles titles at the tournament, the last coming a decade ago.
Neither sister appears on Wimbledon’s singles wildcard list, though one place is still left open.
