Sabalenka faces her Wimbledon curse with the return of Serena Williams

Aryna Sabalenkanumber one in the world, faces Wimbledon with the aim of winning the Grand Slam for the first time and ending a kind of curse at the All England Club, in an edition marked by the return of Serena Williams at 44 years old.

Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slams, has not played in the tournament since 2022, when she lost in the first round against Frenchwoman Harmony Tan.

For her part, Sabalenka, who debuts against the Serbian Teodora Kostovicarrives in London as the main favorite for the title in a tournament in which it has reached the semifinals three times, but in which it has never managed to take the definitive step towards the title.

Sabalenka, who has four Grand Slam trophies, was eliminated in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and recently played the Berlin tournament on grass, where she was defeated in the semifinals by the American Jessica Pegula.

If the predictions come true, she could meet the British team in the third round. Emma Raducanuin the round of 16 with the Japanese Naomi Osaka and in the quarterfinals with the Russian Mirra Andreevaone of the great sensations of the circuit and recent Roland Garros champion. Later it would appear again Jessica Pegula as a possible rival in the semifinals.

But if there is one name that monopolizes much of the attention in this edition, it is Serena Williams, considered one of the best tennis players of all time and who will return to the Wimbledon singles draw four years later thanks to an invitation granted by the organization.

The winner of 23 Grand Slam titles, and second in the women’s historical ranking only behind the Australian Margaret Courtwill compete again at the All England Club, where he won seven individual titles, the last of them in 2016.

Although she never officially announced her retirement, the American remained away from the circuit for almost four years until reappearing last week at Queen’s, where she played the doubles draw alongside the Canadian. Victoria Mboko and this week he competed again in Berlin partnering with Karolina Muchovaalthough both were eliminated in the first round.

In addition to the singles, Serena will compete in the doubles tournament with her sister Venus Williamswith whom he has won six Wimbledon titles and formed one of the most successful couples in the history of tennis.

On the other side of the table she appears as the main candidate Elena Rybakinachampion in 2022 and current world number two.

The Kazakh will start against the French Lois Boisson and, if you advance rounds, you could cross paths with Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals and with the current champion, Iga Swiatekin a hypothetical semifinals.

Precisely, the Pole could star in one of the great matches of the first week if she reaches a third round in which Serena Williams would await her.

Bouzas and Badosa, the Spanish hopes

The Spanish representation will be headed by Jessica Bouzaswho last year had an outstanding performance reaching the fourth round of the tournament, and who will face a seed, the Austrian Anastasiya Potatovawhile Paula Badosa will begin his journey with the American Emma Navarro.

Both tennis players arrive with a good start, since Bouzas participated in the Nottingham and Eastbourne tournaments, where she reached the quarterfinals and the round of 16, respectively, and will try to match the same result from last year to avoid losing points in the ranking.

Badosa, after a break of a month and a half after the Madrid tournament, has played two previous tournaments, playing a great role in Berlin, where she eliminated the American Coco Gauffseventh in the WTA ranking.

For their part, they complete the Spanish representation Sara Sorribeswho will face the Andorran Victoria Jimenezand Oksana Selekhmetevawho will face the Austrian Sinja Kraus in a tournament that starts this Monday.