Jake Paul might get to play at Wimbledon after Serena Williams’ ‘unfair’ decision.
With Serena Williams getting a wildcard spot at Wimbledon, one expert is wondering if Jake Paul might be next…
The most exciting tennis tournament of the year, Wimbledon 2026, kicked off Monday morning. Some of the biggest stars like Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Novak Djokovic are all competing and favorites to win.
Sadly for Britain, Emma Raducanu had to pull out just 15 hours before her first match because of an injury. That was a big disappointment for local fans.
But the biggest name in the tournament isn’t even ranked in the top 500. Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, got a wildcard after being away from tennis for four years. She made her competitive comeback earlier this month and has played two doubles matches already. Serena’s first singles match is against Australia’s Maya Joint on Monday around 16:20 BST.
While many fans are excited about Serena’s return, coach Calvin Betton isn’t so sure. On the Tennis Unfiltered podcast, he said giving her a wildcard might lead to unwanted choices, like letting entertainers such as Jake Paul compete just for the hype.
Betton said, “It feels like a slippery slope. What if tournaments start paying retired legends like Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal huge amounts just to play? It could get out of hand.”
He also feels Serena’s comeback isn’t really about competing seriously anymore. “If she was trying to climb back up the rankings and win, I’d support it. But it feels like this is more for promotion than serious tennis,” he said.
Betton was also unhappy that Serena’s first match is on the prestigious Centre Court. He thinks it’s unfair to other players and fans because she hasn’t played singles in four years and is 44 years old. “She should be on a smaller court, not Centre Court. It would be a mistake and hurt the tournament’s reputation,” he added.
We don’t know how long Serena plans to keep playing, but she’s hinted this might be her only Wimbledon return. Betton guesses she’ll compete in Wimbledon, the US Open, and a few other events before stepping away again.
“That’s why it bothers me,” Betton said. “Wildcards should go to players who are serious about tennis, not just making a brief comeback for a bit of attention.”