Serena Williams returns to Czech Republic's Barbora Strycova during a women's singles semifinal match on day 10 of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 11, 2019. (ALASTAIR GRANT / FILE / AP)

LONDON - American veteran Serena Williams could return to the Wimbledon Championships this year as she has been given a wild card for the grass-court Grand Slam on Tuesday.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion withdrew midway in the opening round at last year's Wimbledon Championships due to injury and has not played since then. Her world ranking has slipped to outside the top 1000.

Before heading to London's All England Club where she clinched seven singles titles, the 40-year-old Williams will play doubles at Eastbourne International together with Ons Jabeur from Tunisia.

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Serena Williams of the US plays a return to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina (not in frame) during their fourth round match on day 8 of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 6, 2021. (THIBAULT CAMUS / AP)

This year's Wimbledon is scheduled to run from June 27 to July 10. The three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland also received a wild card to compete in the men's singles main draw. 

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