Preparing for a high-stakes return to the court is never easy, even for an icon. It turns out that Serena Williams needed a bit of reassurance before her recent comeback match.

Speaking to reporters on June 27, 2026, Venus Williams shared a private moment between the two sisters. The older sister shared a conversation that took place right before the comeback officially started.

“Unexpectedly, before her first match, she asked me did I have any motivational quotes I use for myself,” Venus Williams said. “I told her what I was using at the time. I don’t know if that helped or not. She did win the match.”

According to FOX 59, Venus shared the story while discussing Serena’s comeback and their doubles partnership at Wimbledon. The simple exchange shows how the sisters still depend on each other behind the scenes. 

That initial comeback match took place earlier this month at the Queen’s Club in London. Serena teamed up with Victoria Mboko, a 19-year-old Canadian player who received a wild card entry. 

They faced the third-seeded pair of Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe. Serena and Mboko secured a straight-sets victory, winning 7-6, 6-2. It was Serena's first competitive win in nearly four years. 

Serena is 44 years old and has not played professional singles tennis since the 2022 US Open. She also welcomed her second daughter in 2023, making her journey back to the court even more challenging. 

For Serena, stepping back under global attention carries a mental weight. The family support provided by Venus will surely help Serena for journey ahead.

Serena Williams’ Wimbledon Return: A Potential Iga Swiatek Matchup

Serena will play her first singles match on June 30, 2026, against Maya Joint of Australia. According to the New York Times, a potential third-round meeting with defending champion Iga Swiatek could be possible. 

Following the singles opener, the famous sisters will team up for the women's doubles draw, facing Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in the first round.

Despite the growing excitement, Serena explained that her primary motivation is no longer about adding trophies to her collection. 

“I don’t need to win. I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives… I don’t have anything to prove. … It’s really about my kids getting to see me play,” she stated.

Her daughters, Olympia and Adira, are the main reasons she decided to pick up her racket again.

The tennis world is excited as well. Novak Djokovic called the comeback both “inspirational” and “epic,” noting how hard she has been training in the gym. 

World Number One Aryna Sabalenka expressed her excitement, saying the return is great for the sport and brings more eyes to women’s tennis. 

What are your favorite memories of the Williams sisters? Let us know what you expect from their upcoming Wimbledon return.

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Utsav Sinha