Tennis icon Serena Williams has revealed she will be playing at Wimbledon this year, putting an end to speculation of her retirement.
Williams took to Instagram overnight sharing that she would be playing Wimbledon, after nearly a year away from top-level competition following a devastating leg injury.
“SW and SW19. It’s a date. 2022 See you there,” Williams wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. SW are her initials and SW19 is the postcode for Wimbledon.
The All England Club announced that Williams has been awarded a wildcard entry for singles. It has come as a surprise to the tennis world, after her name did not appear on the women’s singles entry list released by the tournament.
Williams was given the wildcard spot on Tuesday, along with Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Sonay Kartal, Yuriko Miyazaki and Katie Swan.
It will mark her 21st appearance at Wimbledon, and give her the opportunity to add to her collection of 23 grand slam trophies.
Williams will first play doubles at a smaller grass-court event teaming up with Tunisian player Ons Jabeur. Wimbledon is then set to begin on June 27.
Williams has not played a match since her early exit from Wimbledon last year, and as a result, her WTA ranking has dropped to below 1000.
Last year, Australian tennis legend Ash Barty won the women’s singles Wimbledon title, becoming only the second Australian in history to win the tournament. Barty has since announced her retirement from tennis.