Serena Williams will be a Wimbledon outsider but is still a title contender, says Tim Henman

• Tim Henman says Serena Williams shouldn't be ruled out of winning Wimbledon this year.
• That's despite the 40-year-old having played only two matches in the past year.

Serena Williams may have only played one competitive tennis match in the past year, but she shouldn't be ruled out of competing for the women's singles title at Wimbledon.

That's according to the former British number one Tim Henman, who told Insider that it is "brilliant" to have the 40-year-old superstar back on the court after her hiatus.

"It's amazing that she still has that hunger and desire and motivation to be competing," he said of Williams, who was given a wildcard entry to Wimbledon earlier this month.

"Hopefully she can have a great round and I think for the spectators it would be brilliant to watch."

Asked if he believes Williams can win the competition for an eighth time, Henman said: "In my opinion, I think it will be difficult but when you've got her grass court pedigree and you've got her success and her ability, on these courts, anything's possible.

"But I would put her down as an outsider, not one of the favorites at this stage."

Until this week, Williams hadn't played since pulling out of last year's Wimbledon in the first-round with an ankle injury.

She returned on Tuesday at the Eastbourne International, teaming up with Tunisia's Ons Jabeur to beat Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova in the doubles.

The pair won again on Wednesday, beating Shuko Aoyama and Chan Hao-ching in straight sets, but were forced to withdraw from the semifinals after Jabeur was injured.

Despite that disappointment, however, Williams said Eastbourne was the perfect warm-up for Wimbledon.

"I feel good," she told reporters on Wednesday. "As good as one can feel after having such a long time off. I was telling Ons. This was a really good match and the second set in particular, they played really well, but we were able to just play different circumstances.

"It was actually good match play and match practice, which is exactly what I needed and what I wanted to do coming here, so I couldn't have asked for more."

Williams plays France's Harmony Tan in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday.

Insider's interview with Henman was facilitated through the HSBC World of Opportunity programme, which provides young adults with opportunities to learn about careers in sport through interactive workshops.