Serena Williams: John McEnroe would be ‘surprised’ if former world No 1 didn’t do this

Serena Williams has been awarded the no 25 seed for Wimbledon this year and John McEnroe says he would not be surprised if she won it.

Williams dropped from first to 183rd in the world rankings after she took a year away from the game to give birth to her first child.

The American was controversially not seeded for the French Open on her Grand Slam return and had to face two top-20 players in the first three rounds.

But she will be give an easier path to glory by the All England Club when the draw is made on Friday at 10am.

Williams, 36, has not won a major tournament in two years and she will be desperate to end the drought with her eighth Wimbledon title.

And McEnroe thinks she has a strong chance of emerging victorious at the end of the fortnight’s work.

“Serena has nothing to prove but coming back from having a baby might be a motivation, showing she can still win,” McEnroe told What’s on TV.

Williams has not won a Grand Slam title in two years

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“She wouldn’t be the first woman to do it, but she would be the first at her age [36] which makes it a bit tougher.

“It’s certainly within the realm of possibility – in some ways I’d be surprised if she didn’t do it.”

Williams has 23 Grand Slam titles to her name which is the most of all time in the women’s game.

But world No 32 Dominika Cibulkova was furious at missing out on a seed at Wimbledon at the expense of Williams.

"I don't think it's the right thing to do," she said.

"I think it's just not fair. I have tried and I should be seeded. If they put her in front of me then I will lose my spot that I am supposed to have.

"I was a former number four. Why should I not be seeded if I have the right to be?"