On Serena and Grigor

As they each write new chapters at Wimbledon, the two tennis stars have quite the history together.

WIMBLEDON, England — The day is finally here: Serena Williams will play her first singles match in nearly four years this afternoon, at the low-key venue of Centre Court at Wimbledon.

Today has been a long time coming, both for Serena and for Bounces, since I’ve been tracking the progress of her comeback since last December.

But amid all the talk about the comeback of Serena the GOAT, and what her chances of winning a match or two might be, I wanted to briefly pause to reflect on Serena the person, who has spent so many years of her life within this small world of tennis, and developed not only rivalries but also relationships, friendships, acquaintances, and more.

Unique among Serena’s relationships on tour, to be sure, is her bond with Grigor Dimitrov, who makes his own uncertain return to Wimbledon today.

So before they each play, a few thoughts on Serena and Grigor, their past and their present together.