Serena Williams’s left-side doubles gamble in Berlin stuns WTA
A 23-time Slam champ switching sides mid-match raises questions about a potential singles return at Wimbledon.
Serena Williams and Karolina Muchova were knocked out 6-4, 6-4 by Erin Routliffe and Giuliana Olmos in the Berlin Open first round, but the match’s lasting image wasn’t the defeat—it was Williams playing on the left side of the court. The 23-time Grand Slam champion has spent her entire career, including doubles with sister Venus, positioned on the right side. Switching to the left in Berlin is a rare tactical departure that instantly drew attention.
The move may be a calculated experiment to rehearse returning from the ad side ahead of Wimbledon, where Williams already holds a doubles wildcard with Venus. With only two comeback matches completed and 13 days until the grass-court major, every decision now carries extra weight. Williams, 44, is attempting another comeback after nearly two years away from singles competition.
