'Nobody wants to play against Serena' - Barbara Schett says players still 'scared' of Williams ahead of Wimbledon return

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is set to compete at SW19 later this month, and former player and Eurosport expert Barbara Schett has insisted “nobody” will want to play against her. It was announced on Tuesday that Williams would compete at the third Grand Slam of the year after being given a wild card, and Schett says she was surprised to hear that the 40-year-old would be competing after a year out of the game due to injury. Ad/> “I couldn't believe it,” she said.

“I was going through my Instagram account, and then suddenly I see the post from Serena Williams. WimbledonSerena's return, key questions: Why now? Can she win Wimbledon?11 HOURS AGO «I was like, 'wow, Serena Williams is coming back. She's playing Wimbledon'.

“Nobody thought that she was going to play there because we had a close look at the entry list. She wasn't entered. “She hasn't played for one year, and now she's decided to take that wild card.

It's very exciting, I think for women's tennis, it's very exciting for all of us to be able to watch her. And I think it's exciting times for her. The question is, just how much has she practised? Williams suffered a first-round injury at Wimbledon last year and hasn’t played since, and despite concerns over her form after a year on the sidelines, Schett insisted players will still want to avoid the 23-time Grand Slam winner.

/> “I think if you're out for a whole year, it's very difficult because you're not playing any matches. Even if you only practise a lot. It's not the same.

/> “I think with her game style, she has a big serve. If she has been practising, that will help her a lot. But the matter is, how is her movement going to be on the grass court? “But we all know that's the hardest area,