Venus and Serena seem sound for Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England -- Two simple words at the end of a recent tweet said it all: "Serena's back!" And Venus is, too.

Yes, as Serena Williams announced to the world less than two weeks ago, the most successful tennis-playing siblings in history are returning from lengthy layoffs right on time for Wimbledon, where they have won nine of the past 11 singles championships.

For Serena, it will be her first major tournament -- and only second event -- since she took home a second consecutive title from the All England Club in July 2010. Her nearly yearlong absence resulted from a series of health issues, including two foot operations and blood clots in her lungs, that she said left her depressed and "on my deathbed." Venus, meanwhile, was sidelined by a hip injury from January until June.

All eyes will be on them when the grass-court tournament begins tomorrow.

"I feel like we've been on a similar road together. Her road hasn't been as arduous or as long as mine, but I know what she's been through coming back," Serena said when she made her 2011 debut at a tuneup tournament this week in Eastbourne, England. "We've been really enjoying our time just getting back together and practicing next to her and looking over and seeing her play so well. I'm like, 'OK, I've got to do better.' "

There are, to be sure, other plot lines worth tracking during the fortnight.

Among them: Can Roger Federer make a real run at a seventh Wimbledon title? Can Rafael Nadal extend his recent excellence to five titles in a span of six Grand Slam tournaments? Can Novak Djokovic recover from the end of his 43-match winning streak to win a major title other than the Australian Open? Can Andy Murray finally -- and mercifully -- put an end to the locals' 75-year wait for a British male champion at the All England Club? Might No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki win her first major singles title? Could China's Li Na win her second in a row? Will Maria Sharapova end her 3 1/2-year major drought?

But the biggest curiosity, at least at the outset, is: How will the Williams sisters do?

Part of the interest stems from wondering how much longer they'll be around. Venus turned 31 Friday; Serena will be 30 in September.

"Whenever they enter a Grand Slam tournament, it's double the excitement and double the intrigue," said ESPN2 analyst Chris Evert, who won 18 majors. "It would be monumental in my mind if Serena pulled off a win."

Evert -- who said she never was away from the tour longer than four months -- is one of only five women in tennis history who have won more major championships than Serena's 13. The others are Margaret Court (24), Steffi Graf (22), Helen Wills Moody (19) and Martina Navratilova (18).

No one else in this year's Wimbledon women's field has more than three major titles.

Serena is seeded No. 7 at Wimbledon, despite being ranked 26th; Venus is seeded 23rd, but ranked 33rd.

"You know," Sharapova said, "they're obviously the ones to beat on grass."

Not only has Venus won five titles at Wimbledon, and Serena four, since 2000, but they've also produced four all-in-the-family finals there in that span. They've played in a total of eight all-Williams major championship matches, with Serena holding a 6-2 edge.

At Wimbledon, Venus is 68-9, Serena 57-7. No one else in the 2011 draw has more than 27 match wins there. Overall, Serena has been to 16 major finals, Venus 14. No one else in the draw has reached more than four. At least one British bookmaker installed Serena as a 3-1 favorite to win Wimbledon.

"Obviously," Wozniacki said, "no one wants to play them."