'Shocked' John McEnroe feels Serena Williams 'wants to win another major' as legend's tennis return confirmed by Queen's organisers ahead of Wimbledon
Published 01/06/2026 at 17:09 GMT+1
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TNT Sports expert John McEnroe said he was "shocked" by Serena Williams' stunning return to tennis, and feels the 23-time singles Grand Slam champion will have her eyes on a major title.
'Awesome for tennis' that Serena is coming back but 'a tough ask' for GOAT, says McEnroe
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Williams will mark her comeback aged 44 by playing doubles at Queen's in London next week.
TNT Sports presenter and tournament director Laura Robson said during coverage of the French Open that Williams will play alongside 19-year-old Victoria Mboko.
The American has won 39 major titles across singles and doubles events while also taking Olympic Games gold on four occasions, and Robson is pleased to welcome her back to the English grass.
"I can't tell you enough how happy we are to have her at the tournament," Robson said. "What a perfect place to start."
Fellow American tennis great McEnroe said that despite plenty of talk in the United States over recent years that Williams would make her tennis return, he was still surprised by the confirmation of the news on Monday.
"I'm semi-shocked that she decided to do this at her age after having two kids and what she accomplished," McEnroe said.
"I know she didn't have a major after she had her first kid and I know that was something she wanted to prove she could do.
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Osaka gives her reaction to remarkable Serena Williams reports
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"I assume she's slightly disappointed in not doing that. When was her last match, four years ago? That's a big ask, even for Serena. But it's awesome for tennis, let's be real. She's the GOAT."
Williams is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, across any sport. Her mentality is regularly lauded, and McEnroe feels she could be eyeing another extraordinary feat - adding to her tally of major titles.
"If Serena Williams is the GOAT, and she expected to go out and win every game she played, she's not coming back because she's happy to play, she wants to win another major," McEnroe said.
"That's the only reason I can think Serena Williams wants to play tennis again. This has been talked about in the States for the last couple of years, this isn't a new thing. As time went by, it was less likely it was going to happen."
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'Really cool if legend Serena returns to tennis' - Gauff
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Williams won her latest Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in 2017 when she was pregnant with her first child. She reached four finals in subsequent years but suffered defeat in each.
She then retired following the US Open in 2022, but is set to return to competitive tennis this summer.
"If nothing else, it is getting people talking," TNT Sports expert Johanna Konta said. "What an opportunity for people, youngsters, even younger tennis players who are just starting out on tour, they've never seen her in real life.
"It's going to be an experience. I'm a bit shocked, it's one of those things that are like 'why?' But then, 'why not?'"
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And Konta is "curious" to see exactly what Williams wants from her return to tennis.
"Surely there'll be a lot of enjoyment for being back in this space," Konta said.
"But at the same time, it's Serena Williams, and Serena Williams has high expectations of herself. So I'm curious to see and feel what she wants from herself."
The timing of Williams' return has raised questions over whether she may compete at Wimbledon - the London major she won seven times.
"That would seem to be the logical next step," McEnroe said. "You have three weeks. That gives her time to see how she feels, maybe another doubles event somewhere. It's exciting to think about."
Williams' comeback will commence next week, with Queen's getting underway on June 8.
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