As Italian Giulia Gatto-Monticone prepares for her Wimbledon debut at the age of 31 after 17 years on the women’s tour, she need look no further than her first-round opponent Serena Williams for inspiration.
The World No 161, who at this year’s Roland Garros became the oldest Grand Slam debutant since 43-year-old Renee Richards at the 1977 US Open, meets a player six years her senior and pushing for a record-equalling 24th major title.
“It’s a dream come true,” Gatto-Monticone said after coming through the qualifying rounds at Wimbledon to set up a meeting with the seven-times winner.
Williams is chasing her own dream of equalling Margaret Court’s all-time Slam record and has been stuck on 23 major titles for over two years, with poor form putting a question mark over her chances of achieving the feat at Wimbledon.
The American has not enjoyed the best preparation for the tournament, with a niggling knee injury limiting her time on court since the Australian Open in January, but Williams will expect to see off Gatto-Monticone in their first meeting.
“Obviously, I haven’t had the best time and preparation that I normally would have,” 11th-seeded Williams said.
“I’ve had a good week-and-a-half, but I have been really just mentally training, physically training for that time here. I’m just going to do the best that I can now that I’m here.”
Age: 31
WTA Ranking: 161 (Highest ranking: 154)
Grand Slam titles: 0
2018 Wimbledon performance: Did not play
Grand Slam best: The Italian veteran will feature in a Grand Slam main draw for only the second time in her career, having been knocked out in the French Open first round earlier this year.
Head-to-head: This is their first meeting.
