How 'gruelling' doping protocols almost put Williams off comeback

How 'gruelling' doping protocols almost put Williams off comebackImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Serena Williams is one short of Margaret Court's all-time women's record of 24 Grand Slam titlesByJonathan JurejkoBBC Sport tennis news reporter at WimbledonPublished6 minutes agoSerena Williams says the "gruelling" nature of the anti-doping testing process almost stopped her from making a shock comeback to the sport which she once dominated.The 44-year-old American superstar returned in the Queen's doubles earlier this month before deciding to make a singles comeback at Wimbledon.The first sign the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion was seriously planning to play again after a four-year absence came when she rejoined the sport's anti-doping testing pool in December.But mother-of-two Williams, speaking in a packed Wimbledon news conference on Sunday, says the protocols almost put her off."It's gruelling. That was a big reason why I didn't want to come back either, because it's just so hard," said Williams, who plays Australian world number 53 Maya Joint in the first round on Tuesday."My life is busy, I run a [venture capital] company, I travel the world. I have children. It's like I could be in so many different cities so many different times."Raducanu 'plans to play' at Wimbledon despite injury setbackPublished2 hours agoOld guard boosts Wimbledon in battle for centre stagePublished7 hours agoWilliams is the greatest - but will she produce another great fight?Published6 days agoWhat are the rules? And why are players 'stressed' about them?Every active player is subject to out-of-competition testing. But those in the testing pool - which is largely comprised of the top 100 singles, doubles and wheelchair players as well as returning athletes - must let the testers know where they will be for one hour of every single day.A player who misses three out of-competitio...