“People need to cool off a little with the criticism”: Novak Djokovic urges critics to appreciate Serena Williams’s return
After his second-round win at Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic defended Serena Williams following her comeback defeat, urging critics to “cool off” and instead celebrate a 44-year-old returning after two children as “an incredible gift” to tennis.
Serena Williams, Wimbledon 2026 | © Ch. Caillaud / PsNewz
Novak Djokovic has come to the defence of Serena Williams after her Wimbledon comeback ended in a first-round defeat, urging those quick to judge the 44-year-old to instead celebrate what her return means for tennis.
Speaking after his straight-sets win over Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday, the seven-time champion was clear that Williams’s exit should not overshadow the significance of her presence. “What she’s doing is incredible, it’s epic,” he said. “I’ve always been a fan of Serena.” He acknowledged that a competitor of her stature would take little comfort from simply being back on court. “Knowing how competitive she is, with the mind of a champion, she’s not happy just showing up,” he said. “She wants to win.”
But Djokovic reserved his sharpest words for those who had greeted her performance with criticism, pointing to the length of her absence and the circumstances of her return. “She’s 44, she has two children, and she hasn’t played a match in so many years,” he said. “It’s normal that she’s still not at her best in terms of movement. People need to cool off a little with the judgment and the criticism.”
He drew a parallel with his own experience, and that of other long-dominant champions. “People are used to seeing us at our best because they’ve watched us dominate the sport for so many years,” he said.
You have the greatest ever coming to play, bringing more attention to your sport, enjoy !
His appeal was, in the end, a simple one. “Just enjoy the greatness of who she is and what she represents to the sport,” he said. “You have the greatest ever coming to play, bringing more attention to your sport. I don’t understand that kind of thinking and judgment.” Williams’s willingness to return, he added, was “an incredible gift for our sport.”
Djokovic, who said he had watched part of her match, offered a note of hope on where she might appear next. While admitting “nobody really knows what’s going to happen,” he suggested the US Open held obvious appeal. “Playing at home would be amazing, for her and for everyone else,” he said. He signed off with an endorsement that doubled as a plea. “I really support Serena, always have, and hopefully she’s going to play more.”
