Former 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams is among the nominees for this year’s WTA Comeback Player of the Year Award.
On Monday, the WTA announced Williams, Tatjana Maria, Donna Vekic and Daria Saville were the four players nominated for the award.
And finally, for the players whose ranking previously dropped because of injury or personal reasons, and the current season’s results helped restore their ranking 💪
The WTA Comeback Player of the Year nominees:
🔙 @Maria_Tatjana
🔙 @Daria_gav
🔙 @DonnaVekic
🔙 @serenawilliams pic.twitter.com/gLEldhLKR4— wta (@WTA) November 21, 2022
Williams, 41, was out for 12 months before making her singles return at Wimbledon.
At the US Open, Williams made some noise before her career came to an end.
After beating Danka Kovinic in the US Open first round, Williams defeated Anett Kontaveit – who at the time was the second-ranked player in the world.
In the US Open third round, Williams put up a big fight before she went down against 2022 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic.
Williams fought until the very end
After losing to Tomljanovic, Williams said she would like to be remembered for her fighting spirit.
Even though Williams was 40 and coming off a long break, she still managed to put herself in a position to be competitive against some of the best players of the game and do pretty well at the US Open.
“There’s so many things to be remembered by. Like the fight. I’m such a fighter. I feel like I really brought something, and bring something, to tennis. The different looks, the fist pumps, the just crazy intensity. I think that obviously the passion I think is a really good word. Just continuing through ups and downs. I could go on and on. But I just honestly am so grateful that I had this moment and that I’m Serena, so. It was some really great moments today. Not today, but this week, has been really great. Just so much support, so much love. It was really amazing and overwhelming. And I just feel like the whole crowd was really wanting to push me past the line. I’m so thankful and grateful for that. I think honestly what I’ll remember most is that my level was coming back. I think I’m really grateful for that. It’s great to be playing at such a high level, somehow improving. I don’t know how at my age. I think that’s a really good memory for me,” Williams said after her US Open exit.