ASHEVILLE, N.C. — We rule out more major moments and tennis titles at our peril. Serena Williams has proved that point many times over as she has returned from illness, injuries and other turmoil to keep winning the big ones.
Coming back at age 36 from pregnancy and a difficult delivery, after more than a year away, is a new challenge, perhaps her biggest.
“Tennis players have come back after pregnancy and succeeded, yes, but not at this age,” said her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. “All the ones who did it were 10 years younger.”
But as Williams practiced on Friday, it was clear from courtside that the desire is still there, even if her fitness, lateral movement and timing have quite a ways to go.