Tennis-Serena says she needed time to heal after rough 2021

LONDON (Reuters) - Serena Williams needed to heal physically and mentally during a difficult year away from tennis due to injuries and had doubts about her comeback at one stage, the former world number one said on Saturday as she prepares to return to Wimbledon.

Williams, 40, limped out of her first-round match last year at the grasscourt Grand Slam -- where she has claimed seven of her 23 majors -- following a leg injury.

"I don't know. I didn't retire. I needed to heal physically, mentally. Yeah, I had no plans, to be honest. I just didn't know when I would come back. I didn't know how I would come back," Williams told reporters.

The American has slid down to 1,204 in the rankings and needed a wildcard from Wimbledon organisers the All England Lawn Tennis Club to compete in the main draw of the women's singles.

She warmed up for the major, which starts on Monday, by teaming up with Tunisian Ons Jabeur in doubles at this week's Eastbourne event where the pair reached the quarter-finals before an injury to Jabeur ended their campaign.

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