Wimbledon 2019: Serena Williams 'available' to partner Andy Murray
- Published
Serena Williams: 'I feel good now, it's been a rough, rough time for me'
Wimbledon 2019 on the BBC |
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Venue: All England Club Dates: 1-14 July |
Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full details |
Andy Murray says he will "definitely" play mixed doubles at Wimbledon and hinted his partner could be Serena Williams, who says she is "available".
Briton Murray, 32, is still searching for a partner after being turned down by several players, including French Open champion Ashleigh Barty.
The deadline is 11:00 BST on Wednesday followed by the draw an hour later.
"I'm definitely playing," said the Scot on Monday, adding he was "90% sure" who his partner would be.
Asked if it would be American 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams, Murray said: "Possibly. I don't want to say too much just now until things are definitely confirmed."
Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou said they have discussed it and she was "pretty excited with the idea".
"She likes him as a person and he is an incredible player, so why not. The door is not closed on both sides," he told BBC Sport.
Williams, 37, has only played five tournaments this year because of a knee injury, although she says she is "feeling better" going into Wimbledon.
She has not played a competitive match since losing in the French Open third round to compatriot Sofia Kenin.
"We just have to wait and see," said Williams, adding that she "likes to be tongue in cheek".
She added: "Let's see how my knee's going."
Williams reached the mixed doubles final in four Grand Slams earlier in her career, winning the Wimbledon title with Belarusian Max Mirnyi in 1998, but has not played the format much competitively in recent years.
Murray will also play in the men's doubles with Pierre-Hugues Herbert as he builds up his fitness after hip surgery, with the pair facing Ugo Humbert and Marius Copil on Wednesday.
Herbert exited the men's singles in the first round on Monday, losing in straight sets to fourth seed Kevin Anderson, having suffered a fitness scare at the weekend.
The Frenchman felt pain in his thigh during a practice session on Saturday and had to cut it short, but tests came back clear.
"I don't want to imagine me having to say anything to Andy about an injury," said the 28-year-old, adding he was feeling "more pressure than ever" at the prospect of playing alongside Murray.
'Serena arguably the best ever'
Former world number one Murray, who won the Wimbledon men's singles in 2013 and 2016, said he understood the singles tournament was the priority for Williams.
"If the singles players are up for it and want to try and win and be competitive I'm all for it," he said.
"Serena is obviously a brilliant player, has a great doubles record and is brilliant on grass obviously. She's arguably the best player ever."
Laughing, he added: "So she'd be a solid partner."
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Monday, Judy Murray said of the Williams partnership rumours: "I've heard that. That would be something."
She added that it "remains to be seen" whether he will play in the mixed doubles.
Murray played down suggestions he might decide to skip the mixed competition because of concerns about the wear and tear on his body.
"Everybody wants me to play. My whole team would like me to play," he said.
"But from speaking to more experienced doubles players who have been in situations where they have been in the doubles and the mixed, if the weather has not been good the matches can end up getting backed up and you play a lot of tennis over a few days.
"That's when you decide whether to focus and prioritise on one, or you hedge your bets. The weather is meant to be good, I want to play, my team are keen - so it's most likely I'll do it."