Lindsey Vonn feels Serena’s Wimbledon comeback pressure

Skier Lindsey Vonn, 44, says she understands Serena Williams’ comeback as Williams prepares to play both singles and doubles at Wimbledon at age 44—after Vonn’s own return from a devastating Olympic crash left her with a severely fractured left leg and multipl

When Serena Williams stepped back onto a professional tennis court for her first singles match in years. she wasn’t doing it in isolation. On the sidelines at Queen’s Club in London. another elite athlete—Lindsey Vonn—watched closely as Williams celebrated a doubles victory with partner Victoria Mboko.

Vonn. 44. says she recognizes the moment for what it is: not just a return. but a recalibration of what people expect from women in sport as they get older. Williams is preparing to play both singles and doubles at Wimbledon at age 44. and Vonn says she knows what that preparation feels like from experience.

Vonn told The Associated Press. “There is an increasing shift in what women can accomplish at later stages in their careers or life.” She added. “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.” Vonn said Williams also told her that Vonn played a role in inspiring her to come back. “so that of course was meaningful to me.”.

After watching the doubles match from one of the VIP balconies, Vonn spoke with Williams. “She was in great spirits. She’s having fun which I loved seeing, even more than her tennis,” Vonn said in a written response. “If it’s bringing her joy to play, I say play as long as you want!”

Their conversation comes with the weight of hard-earned recovery. Vonn’s Olympic crash in February at the Milan Cortina Olympics left her with a severely fractured left leg and nearly led to a leg amputation. She has undergone eight surgeries since then. She also needs at least one more surgery to repair a torn ACL in that same knee. Even with the uncertainty. she says she’s back in the gym and has resumed physical training while still assessing whether she’ll compete again.

Vonn’s own comeback story stretches further back, too. After nearly six years away from skiing, she returned in December 2024 with a partial titanium replacement in her right knee. She had two victories and seven podium results last season.

At Wimbledon on Tuesday, Williams will play her first singles match since 2022. Her opponent is 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia. Then Williams will play doubles with her older sister, Venus Williams, later in the week.

Vonn said she expects Williams to do well, but not to reveal everything at once. “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.”.

Williams’ resume gives her plenty of reasons to believe in her own comeback narrative. She is a 23-time Grand Slam champion in singles and has won 14 more Grand Slams in doubles—all with Venus as her partner. Vonn’s record in her own sport is similarly unmatched: she has 45 World Cup downhill wins. the most by a male or female skier.

Williams described her first practice sessions back at the All England Club on Sunday as taking her back to basics. “It was kind of like riding a bike,” she said. “Obviously when I play, I might have a lot of things come up.”

What both athletes share, though, is a belief that the standard for ambition should keep moving forward—even after something breaks your timeline.

Vonn’s view is echoed in Williams’ own words. “You have to believe in yourself and go for any dream,” Williams said, “no matter how wild it may be.”

Serena Williams Lindsey Vonn Wimbledon comeback tennis skiing Lindsey Vonn surgeries Milan Cortina Olympics Venus Williams Maya Joint