The return of Serena Williams to tennis, after nearly four years away, completely shook the world of the sport and diverted all attention from the true protagonists of the moment: the players competing in the Grand Slam. Andrea Petkovic, a former tennis player and now commentator, did not hide her frustration with the media frenzy that surrounded the American icon, even considering that the media circus exceeded reasonable limits and overshadowed what was truly at stake.
Serena Williams has chosen to return to competition, for now, only in doubles, avoiding a return to singles for the time being. This comeback was announced before it was officially confirmed, with Andrea Petkovic being one of the first to break the news. During the latest episode of ‘Becker Petkovic’, Petkovic revealed that she was invited to comment on the situation during Roland Garros, but promptly declined, stating that the media attention surrounding the news had become more important than the Grand Slam itself. “At a certain point, the Grand Slam stopped being the most important; Serena’s return in doubles was more important,” lamented Petkovic, emphasizing that the focus should be on the players battling in adverse conditions, namely extreme heat, rather than on a legend who chose to partially return.
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This episode is highly relevant to international tennis, as it highlights Serena Williams’ ability to dominate the media landscape and shape the narrative of major tournaments, even without being involved in singles competition. For many, the news of her participation in doubles completely overshadowed the achievements and challenges of other athletes in the tournament. Petkovic believes that the sense of priorities has been lost at a moment when the competition and the players’ sacrifices deserved the spotlight. In a context where the sport is striving to create new stars and attract audiences, Serena’s return is a double-edged sword: it draws attention but dims the shine of others.
During the conversation with Boris Becker, Andrea Petkovic went even further, raising doubts about the true intentions of the American. “In my opinion, no one in the world, no athlete, voluntarily returns to doping control protocols, let alone Serena Williams. You give up a part of your freedom, a part of your life. They know where you are every day, all the time, and they can show up at any moment. Often they show up at five in the morning, just to bother you. Sorry for the language, but it’s the truth. No one does that, Boris, just to play doubles. I think she is playing doubles to see how her body reacts and if it can handle it,” Petkovic stated, suggesting that Serena may be preparing for a potential return to singles. Nonetheless, she did not hold back in praising the quality demonstrated by the former world number one: “I saw her doubles match and I must say she was fantastic. She served at 190 km/h. The stadium was full, all tickets sold. If she can replicate that in singles, I could never match her, but I take my hat off to her.”
Petkovic also recalled the moment when, while hosting a program on CNN, she refused to start the broadcast with the news of Serena’s return: “It annoyed me. I was hosting a program on CNN and, on the day they announced her return, they wanted me to start the program by talking about that. I refused. I said there was a Grand Slam taking place and players suffering from the heat. I refused to start the program that way. Serena is a true legend, but while a major tournament is ongoing, I’m not going to start the program like that. I’ll give more details later, but I want to start the program talking about the players who are giving their all.” For Petkovic, this diversion of attention is a mistake and undermines the recognition of the efforts of other athletes.
The following is now an unknown. Serena Williams will continue in doubles, alongside Karolina Muchova, this week in Berlin, but everyone is speculating about the possibility of a return to singles. The impact of her presence – even if limited to the doubles format – is already being felt in the media, ticket sales, and the atmosphere of the tournaments. If she advances to singles, the tennis world is preparing for a new wave of excitement, but also for more controversy over the balance between respecting history and focusing on the current protagonists. The tennis universe awaits, divided between the nostalgia for a legend and the need to value those who are currently fighting for titles.
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