Serena and Venus Williams have received a wildcard into this year’s Wimbledon women’s doubles draw, but do we really need them back?

From a competitive standpoint, perhaps not. Tennis has moved on to a new generation and neither sister is expected to challenge for a major singles title again.

But the Williams sisters are not just former champions. They are among the most influential athletes the sport has seen. Together, they changed the perception of women’s tennis, inspired generations of players and delivered some of the most memorable moments in the modern era.

As a doubles pairing, they were virtually unstoppable. Serena and Venus won 14 grand slam doubles titles together, including six Wimbledons, and three Olympic gold medals. They reached world No 1 in doubles and established themselves as one of the greatest partnerships tennis has witnessed.

Yet their story was never solely about playing alongside one another. It was also about competing against each other. Their rivalry began on 20 January 1998, when Venus defeated Serena 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 in the second round of the Australian Open. At the time, Venus was the established sister, ranked inside the world’s top 20, while Serena was only beginning her journey.

What followed was one of the most fascinating tussles in sporting history. The sisters faced each other 31 times, with Serena holding a 19-12 advantage. Nine of those meetings came in grand slam finals, where Serena won seven times. Between Wimbledon, the US Open, the Australian Open and the French Open, they repeatedly found themselves battling for the sport’s biggest prizes.

It created a unique dynamic rarely seen in professional sport. They were sisters, doubles partners, friends and rivals all at once.

Today, the picture is very different. Venus, now 45, has struggled for results in singles, losing all seven of her matches this season. However, her determination to continue competing remains admirable, more than 30 years after making her professional debut.

Serena, 44, returned to action at the Queen’s Club this month, four years after what many believed would be her final appearance, at the 2022 US Open. Although her comeback was disrupted when her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, sustained a knee injury, Serena still showed flashes of the quality and competitive spirit that made her a 23-time grand slam singles champion. She then continued her return alongside Karolina Muchova at the German Open in Berlin, but the pair suffered a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Erin Routliffe and Giuliana Olmos on Tuesday. While the results have been mixed, Serena’s return has already generated excitement across the tennis world.

Neither sister received a singles wildcard for Wimbledon, and neither is expected to contend for the title. Their doubles partnership is unlikely to replicate the dominance of their prime years – but perhaps that is missing the point. The return of Venus and Serena is not about trophies. It is about celebrating two legends whose influence stretches far beyond the court. Tennis does not need them back because the sport can’t survive without them. Tennis needs them back because few players have given so much to the game.

For one more Wimbledon, fans will have the chance to watch one of the greatest partnerships in sporting history share a court again, and that is a good enough reason.