Serena Williams' Hitting Partner Kept Comeback Secret

David Quayle, a 26-year-old hitting partner from Wigan, received a phone call while visiting his parents, inviting him to fly to Florida to help prepare Serena Williams for her return to professional tennis. The established hitting partner, who had previously played on the Futures Tour, had been practicing alongside top players including Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon the previous year.

Upon receiving the call in May, Quayle felt immense excitement but quickly understood the need to keep it a secret. "I didn't tell anyone, [no-one] except my family knew where I was going," Quayle told BBC Sport. He described the thrill of knowing that Williams would be playing at Queen's before the news broke to the world.

For just over a week, Quayle practiced with Williams at one of her properties in Florida. He stayed nearby with Jarmere Jenkins, who had previously worked with her and now coached Williams together with Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs. Quayle shared that he had met Williams in his teenage years, having trained with her at the Mouratoglou Academy in France ahead of the 2018 French Open, which marked her return after maternity leave.

As the duo trained in Florida, Jenkins encouraged Quayle to send photos from their past training, hoping to jog Williams' memory. The training sessions were successful, leading to Quayle being appointed as Williams’ hitting partner for her secretive trip to Queen’s. Quayle would later be seen in Williams' support box as she partnered with Victoria Mboko in the doubles competition.

With rain disrupting practice opportunities on the grass courts in London, Quayle sourced indoor venues at places like the Hurlingham Club and the National Tennis Centre. Reflecting on their sessions, Quayle expressed, "She’s not lost it - she’s still operating at a very high level. She is just the ultimate professional." He stated that Williams is the greatest of all time and admired how she conducts herself on the court.

Despite being a seasoned hitting partner, Quayle admitted feeling nervous during his initial practice sessions with the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion. He recounted the unique experience of facing a serve he had watched on TV for years, feeling torn between admiration and the need to perform.

As Quayle aspires to move into coaching, he is encouraged to provide input on Williams' training. He praised the supportive atmosphere of her team, mentioning, "She’s so welcoming. We’re always cracking jokes and we’ve got a similar sense of humour."

Next week, Quayle is scheduled to accompany Williams to Berlin for the second tournament of her comeback. While he remains uncertain of her participation at Wimbledon, starting on June 29, he expressed relief at no longer needing to conceal his activities from friends, stating, "I feel like I can breathe and relax a little now the secret is out there."