Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash praised Serena Williams' performance in her return to professional tennis, stating that she could still beat 75 per cent of the tour.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner and seven-time Wimbledon champion, returned to SW19 after accepting two wildcards from the All England Club. Despite losing to Australia's Maya Joint 3-6 7-6 3-6, Williams showed glimpses of her best form in what was her first professional singles contest in 1,396 days.
Cash, who won at SW19 in 1987, believes Williams will keep playing and could be a 'real handful' if she builds on her promising first outing since 2022. He praised Williams' level of play, stating that she would have beaten 75 per cent of the tour if she played the same way.
Cash was impressed by Williams' performance, saying she played 'incredibly high-standard tennis.' He added that if Williams continues to play at this level, she will be a 'real handful' for her opponents.
Former British tennis player Annabel Croft was also impressed by Williams' capabilities, saying she is confident that fans will see the seven-time Wimbledon champion play again. Croft believes Williams may compete at the US Open in a few months, but the factor will be if her body can stand up to it.
Williams is still to compete in the women's doubles with her sister Venus, but her future plans beyond Wimbledon remain unclear. She is scheduled to be back in doubles action tomorrow with Venus against Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio.
Williams did not speak to the media after her first-round defeat, but said in a brief statement that she 'never expected to be here' and 'definitely relished' her return to Wimbledon.
