Amritraj on Serena Williams’ Return and Women’s Tennis
Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 1973 and 1981, shared his insights ahead of the 2026 tournament. Speaking at a JioStar Media Day, the 72-year-old discussed various topics, including the return of Serena Williams to tennis at the age of 44. Amritraj drew an analogy to Muhammad Ali’s boxing comeback, suggesting that while Serena Williams has achieved unparalleled success in tennis, a major win at her age, especially with family commitments, is improbable, though not impossible. He believes her motivation might stem from the joy of playing and wanting her daughters to see her compete.
Regarding women’s tennis, Amritraj noted that since the departure of the Williams sisters, the field has become more competitive, with many players performing at a similar standard. He highlighted that it is challenging to predict a clear winner in the women’s draw, contrasting it with the men’s game where players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have distinguished themselves. Amritraj mentioned Aryna Sabalenka as a strong contender on grass, noting her powerful game and improved serve, despite other players finding weaknesses in her approach. He also observed that upsets are common in the early stages of the tournament, particularly on grass courts, which have evolved from their historically faster nature.
Djokovic’s Wimbledon Preparations and Temperament
Novak Djokovic, at 39 years old, arrived at the All England Club to prepare for Wimbledon, aiming for a 25th Grand Slam title. He engaged in practice sessions on the grass courts of Aorangi Park, including sparring with local partners and a notable training session on Court No 1 with world No 1 Jannik Sinner. Amritraj emphasised Djokovic’s mental fortitude and temperament, stating that he is a player one should never bet against, especially when matches become tense. He believes Djokovic will still be considered one of the favourites for the tournament.
Djokovic’s 2026 season has highlighted his current career stage. Despite astounding performances, such as reaching the Australian Open final where he defeated Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, maintaining peak physical condition has been a challenge. His five months following the Australian Open have shown the difficulty of consistent high-level competition, with limited play due to health issues. For instance, he lost in the fourth round of Indian Wells and his opening match in Rome. His preparation for Roland Garros was also impacted, where he struggled with the physicality of a tough five-set match despite leading by two sets.
Keeping his body healthy is a significant challenge for Djokovic at his age. Wimbledon, where he has won seven times, is considered a favourable venue for him to secure another Grand Slam. The nature of grass courts, with shorter points, allows Djokovic to leverage his precise serve, net play, and aggressive first-strike tennis, which suits his current physical condition. Amritraj noted that the biggest difficulty for Djokovic would be recovering from multiple long five-set matches, despite his meticulous approach to physical care.
Sinner’s Title Defence and Men’s Competition
Jannik Sinner, the defending champion at Wimbledon, faces a fascinating tournament. His dominant clay-court season, which included sweeping the Masters 1000 tournaments in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome, was followed by a challenging loss at the French Open. Sinner experienced a collapse against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo in the second round, losing after leading by two sets and 5-1 in the third. He later indicated that he spent weeks after Paris addressing physical issues, despite initially stating the defeat was not heat-related. Sinner will aim to demonstrate resilience and learn from past experiences as he defends his title.
The absence of Carlos Alcaraz due to a right-wrist injury creates an opportunity for other players in the men’s draw. Djokovic and Sinner have been drawn into the same half in SW19, potentially setting up a semi-final encounter. Beyond these two, Matteo Berrettini is the only other player in the bottom half of the draw to have reached a Wimbledon final. Several other strong grass-court players, including Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Alex de Minaur, Flavio Cobolli, Mensik, and Arthur Fils (if healthy), are expected to contend with high hopes for a breakthrough in the tournament.
Wimbledon 2026 is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 29, and conclude on July 12.
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Source: sportstar.thehindu.com
