Wimbledon surprise as Serena Williams accepts singles wildcard at 44

Serena Williams surprised the tennis world on Sunday, as the 44-year-old tennis legend will make her return to Wimbledon after accepting a wildcard.

Williams received the final women’s singles slot, which had a gap following a previous announcement on Tuesday.

She had already gotten a wild card to compete with her sister, Venus Williams, in Wimbledon’s doubles competition. However, she noted she would consider a singles return earlier this month.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Serena Williams reacts after a point against Danka Kovinic on day one of the 2022 U.S. Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., on Aug. 29, 2022. (Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports)

“You think I’m ready for singles? I need to get to work,” Serena said at SW19, per Yahoo Sports.

Serena has won women’s singles at Wimbledon seven times across her illustrious career, but there is still something she can chase: Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam victories. Serena sits at 23 for her career.

SERENA WILLIAMS OPENS UP ABOUT 31-POUND WEIGHT LOSS USING GLP-1 MEDICATION: ‘SOMETHING I SUFFERED WITH’

It was 2019 the last time Serena won a women’s singles match, and it came at Wimbledon against Simona Halep from Romania. She’s only played just two doubles matches since returning to competition after being out of the game for four years.

Serena’s career accolades goes on longer than a CVS receipt, winning each Grand Slam – Australian Open, French Open and the U.S. Open included – at least three times. And alongside her sister, Serena has accomplished the career “Golden Slam” in singles and doubles.

Serena Williams arrives on the red carpet along the Seine River before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games on July 26, 2024. (James Lang/USA TODAY Sports)

She’s the most recognizable female player in the sport today, and fans from around the globe will surely be tuned in to see how far she can go in this year’s tournament.

At Wimbledon in 2022, Serena said she didn’t know if it would be her last appearance at the tournament.

“Who knows where I’ll pop up?” Serena, who also had a wild card for this Wimbledon, said at the time.

Serena Williams of the United States gestures to the crowd after a match against Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia on day five of the 2022 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., on Sept. 2, 2022. (Danielle Parhizkaran/USA TODAY Sports)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

She has always loved playing on grass, winning 107 of her 123 singles matches on the surface, which bodes well for her return.

Serena will find out who she faces in the first round this Friday, while the tournament begins June 29.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.