Ever since Serena Williams revealed nearly three weeks ago her comeback to the world of professional tennis after a four-year hiatus, anticipation has been building.

Yet, it was genuinely startling to read the succinct statement from The All England Club confirming the legendary 23-time Grand Slam winner’s participation in the Wimbledon singles competition.

The pivotal announcement shared on Sunday, eight days before the prestigious grass-court event, declared, “Serena Williams (USA) receives the final ladies’ singles wild card.”

Williams, at the age of 44, will compete not only in singles but also in the doubles category at Wimbledon, partnering with her elder sister Venus after securing a wild card for the doubles event.

As if to highlight the gravity of the moment, Wimbledon took to social media on Sunday to declare, “This is not a drill.”

Commented the WTA Tour, “Name a more iconic return…we’ll wait.”

Wimbledon held open the eighth and final women’s singles wild card spot until Williams made up her mind. As recently as earlier this week after losing a doubles match in Berlin, she appeared to be waffling over the decision.

“Oh my gosh, there are some left?” she replied when she was told there was still a wild card spot open. Wild cards are special invitations handed out by tournament organizers, which allow former champions and others access to the main draw without the necessary entry qualifications. But then she mused about her readiness for it.

“Do you think I’m ready for singles?” she asked a reporter and then turned to doubles partner Karolina Muchova to ask what she thought.

“I think I would be interested in it,” the Czech player responded.

“That’s the question of the hour, right?” Williams said. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I wonder why there’s – I don’t know.”

Well, now that Williams has made up her mind, the big remaining question is how she can physically handle singles play after so long.

Serena’s most-recent singles match was a loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, she said she didn’t want to use the word “retiring” and instead declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis. Her second daughter was born in 2023.

“Just finished a mean game of duck duck goose,” Williams said on X after the wild card announcement.

Of Williams’ 23 Grand Slam titles in singles, seven have come at Wimbledon: in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016. She’s also won 14 Grand Slams in doubles, all with Venus, and six of them at Wimbledon.

Serena also swept the singles and doubles (with Venus) titles at the 2012 London Olympics, when the tennis competition was held on the hallowed grass of the All England Club.

At her last Wimbledon appearance in 2022, Serena was beaten in the opening round by 115th-ranked Harmony Tan in her first match since having to stop less than a set into her opening contest at the All England Club because of an injury the year before.

Serena won a doubles match with partner Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club last week but then the pair had to withdraw after Mboko injured her knee in a singles match.

In another doubles match at the Berlin Open on Tuesday, Serena and Muchova were beaten by Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe.

As of Sunday, Serena had not entered the singles draws of any grass-court tuneup tournaments before Wimbledon.

She will learn who her first-round opponent is on Friday when the singles draws for Wimbledon are held.

While she’s No. 593 in the doubles rankings courtesy of her victory last week, Serena has no singles ranking after being away for so long.

Iga Swiatek is the defending Wimbledon champion, while Aryna Sabalenka is ranked No. 1.

Because Serena has no ranking, she could potentially face Swiatek, Sabalenka or any other top-ranked player in the opening rounds.

In an emotional announcement today, Keir Starmer revealed that he is stepping down, as Andy Burnham appears poised to make a bid for leadership at Downing Street.

Standing outside the iconic No. 10, Starmer reflected on his accomplishments in leading Labour to victory while also offering some questionable claims regarding his government’s achievements.

Despite these successes, Starmer conceded that his tenure was coming to an end. “The question isn’t whether I can continue to reform the Labour Party,” he stated, “but rather if I am the right person to lead us into the next general election.”

He graciously accepted the verdict, saying, “It’s with goodwill that I will step down as the leader of the Labour Party.”

Starmer assured that the process to find his successor would be orderly, with a new leader being appointed before the parliamentary summer recess on July 16, should Burnham be the sole candidate. If multiple candidates emerge, the decision might extend into August.

However, Sir Keir became emotional as he paid tribute to the support from his family – saying he would now focus on being the ‘best husband’ and the ‘best dad’. 

Wife Victoria and the couple’s son had joined close colleagues outside in the street to watch the news be delivered. Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray, a perennial presence in Westminster, could be heard playing EU anthem Ode To Joy through speakers nearby.

Mr Burnham – who has rallied huge support from Labour MPs since romping home in the Makerfield by-election last week – is due to be sworn in at the Commons at 2.30pm.

But Nigel Farage immediate joined calls – including from some Labour MPs – for a general election to accompany the change at the top. 

The PM returned to Downing Street from Chequers early this morning, after spending the weekend locked in talks with wife Victoria and close aides. He spoke to the King, who is at his Highgrove residence, by phone before making the announcement.

In other twists and turns today:

• A minister has warned that Mr Burnham must call a snap general election if he takes over from Sir Keir;
• Markets are giving their verdict on a turbulent weekend, with fears a new PM could tear up fiscal rules and lurch Left;
• Britain is on track for its seventh PM in a decade since the Brexit referendum;
• Sir Keir is set to be the shortest-serving Labour PM since universal suffrage.  

Sir Keir reiterated his defiance on Friday after Mr Burnham stunned the political world by securing a 9,000 majority over Reform in Makerfield.

He insisted he would fight any challenge to his leadership.  

But the mood music had dramatically shifted by yesterday, when Business Secretary Peter Kyle – one of Sir Keir’s dwindling band of loyalists – was sent on TV to say the premier was reflecting on his situation. 

In his speech this morning, Sir Keir said: ‘Walking up this street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life, a new Labour government, the first in 14 years, a page in our country’s history turned after years of disappointment and despair, the chance to change the lives of millions of people for the better, that’s what I came into politics for the journey to that point was not easy.

‘Six years ago, I inherited a Labour Party that was politically, financially, and thoroughly bankrupt.

‘I was told time and time again that my party was finished, that we were consigned to history, that a majority at the general election, let alone a landslide majority, was impossible, but we proved those people wrong, because we changed our party, ripping out the poison of antisemitism, restoring trust on the economy, defence, and national security, and becoming a party that once again stood proudly with, not against, our national flag.’

Sir Keir insisted that people should ‘look at what we’ve achieved in just two years’.

‘An economy that is stronger, going faster than our peers, wages rising faster than inflation in every single month since we came to power,’ he said.

‘Investment secured, infrastructure being built, an end to austerity with the fastest fall in NHS waiting lists for 17 years, the biggest improvement in rights for workers and renters in a generation.’

‘The biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War.

‘Small boat crossings falling, asylum hotels closing, protecting young people from social media and half a million children being lifted out of poverty because of the choices that I made.

‘Our reputation in the world restored, with Britain once again standing up for decency, respect and the rule of law, securing trade deals, standing with Ukraine, standing up for our values and rebuilding our relationship with our allies in Europe.

‘Change promised by a Labour government. Change fought for by a Labour government. Change delivered by a Labour government.’

His voice cracking, Sir Keir said: ‘I want to thank the brilliant Number 10 staff and our country’s extraordinary Civil Service who dedicate their lives to public service.

‘And when I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend more time on the most important job, being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad, and being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and my joy.’

Sir Keir is also slated to do a statement on the G7 summit in the House this afternoon, which would have been difficult unless he had provided some clarity on his intentions. 

Baroness Jacqui Smith, seen as close to Sir Keir, appeared to confirm Sir Keir was on the way out as she toured broadcast studios for the Government this morning.

The education minister used the past tense as she said she ‘would have been happy for him to continue’ as premier – although she also urged people not to ‘get ahead of themselves’.

Lady Smith, a former home secretary who was elevated to the House of Lords by Mr Starmer two years ago, told Times Radio: ‘My understanding from those I’ve spoken to who are close to the Prime Minister yesterday is that he has spent the weekend thinking very carefully about the future of the country and what is the best thing to do for the British people.

‘He has also, of course, been engaged in government — responding to the terrible train crash, speaking to the chief executive of the East Midlands Ambulance Service, and responding to the attack in Edinburgh.

‘But he always thinks carefully about the future of this country and the interests of the British people — he puts them ahead of the interests of the party — and he will make his own decisions in light of what everybody can see is a considerable amount of pressure and turbulence.’

Last night Donald Trump declared Sir Keir ‘will resign’, pre-empting the announcement from No10.

The US President, who met Sir Keir at last week’s G7 summit in France, waded into Labour’s leadership crisis.

‘Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,’ he posted on his TruthSocial site in his latest intervention into British politics.

‘He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT’

The PM reached the conclusion that his position is no longer tenable after talking to Cabinet colleagues, No 10 advisers, union leaders and key Labour donors.

Attention will now turn to the prospects of a Burnham administration – with the former Greater Manchester Mayor the overwhelming favourite to take over.

Mr Burnham is being urged to tear up Labour’s tax pledges to fund his costly spending plans.

While fighting for the Makerfield seat, Mr Burnham said he would honour Labour’s manifesto tax pledges, which include not raising income tax, National Insurance or VAT. 

But allies of the new MP are now pushing him to drop the pledge or risk being ‘hamstrung’ in office.

Labour ministers and MPs on the Left of the party have rallied around Mr Burnham – including his right-hand woman Louise Haigh, Anneliese Midgley, who helped to run his campaign, and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

One pro-Burnham minister told the Daily Mail: ‘That manifesto was written at a certain point in time but so much has changed. I think Andy has an opportunity to say he’s a new PM and in order to bring about real change, it is going to require some big changes.

‘That includes on tax, where he is going to need to raise revenues to deal with the huge pressures in defence, in the NHS, in getting our high streets where they need to be… I think if we stick to those tax pledges he is going to be hamstrung from the start and people could become disillusioned very quickly.’

The outgoing Greater Manchester mayor has committed to slashing business rates for pubs and hospitality venues, nationalising water, energy and transport, a massive investment in council housing and a revival of the northern leg of HS2.

Mr Burnham is yet to outline how he will pay for these promises, made in the heat of his by-election campaign, which could cost taxpayers tens of billions of pounds.

Government estimates put the cost of nationalising the water industry alone at about £100billion – meaning Mr Burnham could have to look again at the tax commitments Labour was elected on in order to find cash for his economic agenda. Last night the Tories warned Mr Burnham’s spending plans will damage the economy, as they said that he has ‘high taxes, high borrowing in his DNA’.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride told this newspaper: ‘Andy Burnham wants to tear up Labour’s already disastrous economic legacy and go even further. This will punish hard-working people who do the right thing.

‘Rachel Reeves has raised taxes by over £60billion while letting the welfare bill spiral out of control. Burnham wants to double down on all her mistakes, with yet more taxes and more reckless spending and borrowing.’

Mr Burnham, photographed in Cheshire yesterday wearing Birkenstock sandals ahead of his return to Westminster today, spooked the financial markets last year when he said the Government should be less ‘in hock’ to the bond markets. But during his by-election campaign, he said he supported the Chancellor’s fiscal rules – U-turning just weeks after suggesting they could be changed to fund defence spending.

There are those around Mr Burnham still advocating for such a move. Lord O’Neill, a former Treasury minister, has said the Government should be ‘bolder about borrowing to invest’.

The economist, who Mr Burnham has drafted in to boost his team of advisers, suggested more could be done to ‘explore’ Rachel Reeves’s fiscal rules in order to boost spending.

UK gilt yields, which determine the cost of government borrowing, rose after Mr Burnham’s victory cleared the way for his bid to oust Sir Keir. During his campaign he was likened to Robin Hood’s ‘Sheriff of Nottingham’ after he boasted of hitting Manchester with the highest tax of any mayor.

Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick last night warned that ‘Burnham will show his true colours’ upon entering No 10. 

‘Higher taxes to fund wasteful Net Zero spending, houses for illegal migrants, and benefits for those who don’t need them,’ he said. ‘Labour never changes and working Britons will be forced to pay for it all.’

Business Secretary Peter Kyle told Sky News yesterday that Mr Burnham must maintain ‘fiscal discipline’. 

Ms Reeves’s fiscal rules state that day-to-day spending must be matched by tax revenues, so that Labour can only borrow to invest and not to fund spending.