Serena Williams has seemingly added Rennae Stubbs to her team for the final tournament of her career. This week, Williams has been spotted accompanied by former six-time Grand Slam champion Stubbs. On Tuesday, Williams practiced with Maria Sakkari.
During the practice, journalists spotted that Williams was accompanied by Stubbs, a former top-ranked player in the doubles competition.
Williams, 40, is preparing for the final tournament of her career at the US Open.
Stubbs was ecstatic after Williams announced her return
Williams was out for 12 months before announcing that she would return to action at Wimbledon. After hearing the Williams news, Stubbs lost it as she was thrilled to see the 23-time Grand Slam champion returning to action.
“I am SO happy to hear Serena Williams is coming back!!! Never want to see a great champion limp off a court in tears and never return!!!! Let’s go SW!!!! #comeback,” Stubbs wrote on Twitter after Williams announced she would compete at Wimbledon.
Two weeks ago – in an article published for Vogue * Williams revealed her plans to retire from professional tennis at the US Open. In the article, Williams refused to use the term “retirement” and instead said that she’s “evolving away from tennis.
After reading Williams’ retirement message, Stubbs felt it was a “real” and “honest” message from the 23-time Grand Slam champion. “This is as real and honest and beautiful an article as I’ve ever read.
I love you for always being you, thanks for all of it, Serena Williams. Farewell to Tennis—In Her Own Words,” Stubbs wrote on Twitter. Williams captured the first of her 23 Grand Slams at the 1999 US Open. Williams picking the US Open as the tournament where she wants to retire didn’t really come as a surprise.
Williams is just 1-3 since returning to action at Wimbledon and it will be interesting to see how she will do at the US Open.
