Serena leaves her rivals guessing

All eyes will be on Serena Williams when Wimbledon gets under way next week as the seven-time champion bids to win her first grand slam crown since becoming a mother.

Her two-year reign as Wimbledon champion ended 12 months ago when she missed the grass-court grand slam while she prepared for the September birth of her first child.

In the American’s absence, Spain’s Garbine Muguruza won Wimbledon for the first time with a final victory over Serena’s sister Venus.

Winning Wimbledon for the eighth time in her 18th visit – coinciding with the event’s 150th anniversary – would be another memorable moment for Serena on the Centre Court she regards as a second home.

But Williams has made only a tentative return to action following complications during daughter Alexis Olympia’s birth.

The 36-year-old was beaten by Venus at Indian Wells in March and suffered a dismal first-round exit against Naomi Osaka in Miami.

Williams played her first grand slam for more than a year at the French Open last month, reaching the fourth round before a shoulder injury forced her to quit ahead of her clash with Maria Sharapova.

Not seen on court since Paris, Williams continues to loom large over the tennis world as the debate rages over whether she should be seeded at Wimbledon.

Williams is ranked 183 after her pregnancy absence, but she is a former world number one who won the last grand slam she competed in at the Australian Open last year.

As a 23-time major winner, many believe Williams deserves to be seeded regardless of her current reduced status.

But French Open chiefs decided against seeding Williams.

She will use a protected ranking to enter Wimbledon, but the tournament’s seedings committee will decide this week whether she should be included among the top 32 in the draw.

Asked where he would rank his compatriot at Wimbledon, American legend John McEnroe said: “Somewhere between one and 10 – one and 16 at the worst.

“I don’t think there would be a player that would complain, especially the top ones, if she was one of the top eight,” he said.

As for the argument that seeding Williams might be unfair to the player edged out of the top 32, McEnroe responded: “What’s her name? No offence. You’re talking about Serena.”

Given her wealth of experience and a lethal serve that is especially potent on grass, Williams should be a threat regardless of her seeding.

Muguruza has the power and poise to trouble her, but the 24-year-old’s form comes in fits and starts.

“She’s Serena Williams and she can play incredible. You can never underestimate a champion like her, even though she didn’t play as much,” Muguruza said. –