As tennis icon Serena Williams made her highly anticipated return to professional play after nearly four years, she found a kindred spirit in another legendary athlete, skier Lindsey Vonn.
Vonn, herself a formidable competitor in her 40s, offers a unique perspective on Williams' journey as she prepares to compete in both singles and doubles at Wimbledon at age 44.
Vonn understands the challenges intimately, having made her own comeback to become the top World Cup downhiller last season at 41, before a severe leg fracture at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February halted her progress.
"There is an increasing shift in what women can accomplish at later stages in their careers or life," Vonn told The Associated Press. "I feel like we are in the same boat, where we don’t need to prove anything to anyone, but we still have the ability to compete at an elite level. She (Williams) also told me that I played a role in inspiring her to come back so that of course was meaningful to me."
Vonn was present to witness Williams' doubles victory with partner Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club in London, watching from a VIP balcony. "She was in great spirits. She’s having fun which I loved seeing, even more than her tennis," Vonn remarked. "If it’s bringing her joy to play, I say play as long as you want!"
Despite undergoing eight surgeries following her Olympic crash, which nearly led to a leg amputation, and facing at least one more to repair a torn ACL, Vonn is back in the gym and training, though her competitive return remains uncertain.
She previously returned to skiing in December 2024 after a six-year hiatus, securing two victories and seven podium finishes with a partial titanium knee replacement.
Williams is set to play her first singles match since 2022 on Center Court at Wimbledon on Tuesday against 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia, followed by doubles with her older sister Venus later in the week.
Vonn offered a measured outlook on Williams' prospects. "It’s her first major singles tournament since retiring so I would expect for her to play well but not show all her cards yet," Vonn said. "I’m sure she can still win, but I wouldn’t put any expectations on her. She’s the GOAT (greatest of all time) no matter what happens."
Indeed, Williams boasts an unparalleled 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 more in doubles, all with Venus. Vonn’s 45 World Cup downhill wins are a record for any skier. Reflecting on her return to the All England Club, Williams commented, "It was kind of like riding a bike.
Obviously when I play, I might have a lot of things come up." Both athletes share a philosophy of setting ambitious goals and defying expectations. "You have to believe in yourself and go for any dream," Williams affirmed, "no matter how wild it may be."
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