How Williams' British hitting partner kept comeback secret

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How Serena's training partner from Wigan kept her return secret

David Quayle was visiting his parents when his phone rang, and he was asked to fly to Florida to help prepare Serena Williams for a return to professional tennis.

The 26-year-old from Wigan has become an established hitting partner since his playing days on the Futures Tour, and shared a court with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz at last year's Wimbledon.

But after fielding that call in May - and once he had finished "pacing around the house in excitement" - he soon realised he would need to keep it a closely guarded secret.

"There was this excitement that she was going to play Queen's, but no-one knew yet," Quayle told BBC Sport.

"I didn't tell anyone, [no-one] except my family knew where I was going.

"It was quite exciting to be in on this little secret that you knew when the tennis world hears it would be huge news."

Quayle practised with Williams for just over a week on a hard court at one of her Floridian properties. He stayed nearby with Jarmere Jenkins, who once served as the 44-year-old's hitting partner, but will now coach her in conjunction with Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs.

When Jenkins first called to invite Quayle to Florida, the Briton told him he had met Williams when he was a teenager.

In fact, he had spent the best part of a month training with her at the Mouratoglou Academy in France in the lead up to the 2018 French Open, where Williams made her Grand Slam return after maternity leave.

"Send me the photos," Jenkins told him, and promised to show them to Williams to see if she remembered - which Quayle thinks she did "a little bit".

The sessions in Florida were a success and Quayle was hired as Williams' hitting partner for her trip to Queen's, which at the time was still a secret.

This week, the Briton will be in Williams' support box as she partners Victoria Mboko - another player he has hit with at tournaments - against third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in the first round of the doubles.

The recent wet weather in London has prevented much practice on grass, so Quayle has been helping to source indoor courts at venues like the Hurlingham Club and the National Tennis Centre.

"The practices we have been having have been pretty special," Quayle continued.

"She's not lost it - she's still operating at a very high level. She is just the ultimate professional.

"For me, she's the greatest of all time, and you see that in the way she does things on the court.

"It's incredible to just be a part of and witness - never mind to actually be learning from her and seeing her as a friend and an opponent."

Despite being a well-established hitting partner on the professional tour - and with a job already lined upat Wimbledon - Quayle says his first few practice sessions with the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made him "a little bit nervous".