Serena Williams Cancels Practice Session Ahead of Return on Grass Courts

Serena Williams has excited tennis fans around the world after announcing a return to Wimbledon this month. The former World No. 1 will also feature in doubles action at Eastbourne, before making her way to London for the Championships.

Williams will partner Ons Jabeur, the new Berlin Open champion in the doubles draw, before her return to action since her first-round injury in 2021 at SW19. The 23-time Grand Slam winner has been absent for nearly a year as she turns 41 this year.

Serena Williams cancels Eastbourne practice session

The former World No.1 was scheduled to practice at Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park. However, she canceled the session with her first doubles match on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Jabeur arrived from Berlin after her successful title win on Sunday.

According to the tournament, Serena is ‘having the day off’. The American has won seven Championships with 6 titles in doubles at SW19. Meanwhile, Jabeur has withdrawn from the singles draw this week but will play her first match alongside Serena.

In a press conference, Jabeur said: “I cannot wait to see her, I haven’t seen her yet. Hopefully we will get together and talk a little bit and see. Because I’m really pumped, I want to win this doubles and why not win the title here, you know?”

Serena and Jabeur are likely to meet Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo in their opening encounter at Eastbourne.

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Will Serena have her ‘Last Dance’?

The 23-time Grand Slam winner has been the most dominant player for over two decades. Serena has played a level above the rest culminating in numerous trophies and a World No.1 ranking for 319 weeks. With the all-time record set by great Margaret Court at 24 Slams, Williams is one short of claiming the elusive record.

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However, she has reached Grand Slam finals since her last major victory in 2017 but has failed to equal the long-standing record in tennis. With her return at 40 this month, could she do the unthinkable and win another Grand Slam before calling it a day?