'I didn't know how I'd come back,' says Serena

"I didn't retire. I just needed to heal physically, mentally. I had no plans. I just didn't know when I would come back. I didn't know how I would come back," said the 40-year-old on Saturday. The American star will return to singles action at Wimbledon next week for the first time since her tearful exit from the All England Club in the first round in 2021. The seven-time Wimbledon champion is chasing a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title. However, her lengthy absence from the sport has seen her world ranking plummet to 1,204th.