Serena’s Coach Gives Fresh Update After Wimbledon Heartbreak
Retold by Oddsrama · 7 July 2026
Serena Williams has a fresh plan heading into the US Open, and her coach Rennae Stubbs has spelled out what the tennis legend is aiming for. Unlike her Wimbledon approach—where she skipped singles warm-ups and went straight into the main draw—Serena now wants competitive singles action before the year's final Grand Slam gets going on August 30. The target: the elite WTA 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati to sharpen up on hard courts, the surface where she's historically been most dangerous.
There's a catch, though. Stubbs made it clear that everything hinges on Serena's body cooperating. The knee issue that had fluid buildup needs to respond well to treatment, and her recovery timeline will ultimately decide whether she actually enters those summer tournaments. "Getting on the hard court will be a lot more stable for her," Stubbs explained, acknowledging the reality that Serena juggles family and business commitments alongside her tennis comeback. The Washington event on July 27 could be an option too, but Toronto (August 2) and Cincinnati (August 13) are the main targets for meaningful match practice.
From a betting angle, this signals confidence in Serena's fitness trajectory—teams don't publicly chart warm-up tournaments unless recovery is tracking well. Hard courts have always been her hunting ground, so if she does play Toronto or Cincinnati, form should come quickly. That said, the conditional language from Stubbs suggests nothing's guaranteed. Punters should stay tuned for entry confirmations closer to those dates. One thing's certain: Serena won't repeat the Wimbledon gamble of going in cold for singles. She's learned that lesson, and a few match wins beforehand could be the difference between a deep US Open run and an early exit.
Related stories
Oddsrama retells the day's football news in our own words, with full credit to the source. 18+. Play responsibly.