I was at Serena Williams' comeback press conference - three things I noticed

Some days in journalism are the same.

Then there are special days like Sunday at Queen's.

I had asked to attend the Wimbledon warm-up event before Serena Williams said she would return to professional tennis. Everyone in the room had also asked to attend. We all found out before the 23-time Grand Slam champion said she would play at Queen's.

When I got to Queen's, there was only one thing people were talking about.

Serena

You could hear people talking about Williams around the grounds. Her name was mentioned a lot in the corridors and media rooms. Even with other matches happening, everyone wanted to talk about Serena.

It was clear right away.

People are still very interested in Serena Williams.

A few hours before she was supposed to talk, I went to the practice courts with many other people. She was warming up with her doubles partner Victoria Mboko in front of a big crowd.

Every time she won a point, people clapped. Every time she hit the ball, people took out their phones. Every time she moved, people watched.

For someone who has not played a professional match in almost four years, it was clear how special she is. Even though she retired, she is still very important in tennis.

Back in the media center, people were getting more and more excited.

As the time for the press conference got closer, journalists packed into the room and camera operators looked for the best spots. We were told Serena might arrive early, so nobody wanted to miss her.

Instead, we waited.

And waited.

When you wait a long time, you can start to feel anxious.

A little while before, the room was full of conversation. Then it became very quiet.

The press conference was delayed until later that day.

The collective groan that followed said everything.

People started to wonder what was happening.

Some people thought maybe she got hurt during practice. But she looked fine when she was training.

Even though there was no reason to worry, people started to get concerned.

Many bad things have happened in tennis this season, and it was clear how worried people were.

Luckily, the rumors were not true.

Serena arrived, and it was clear that she is still very special.

When Williams came into the room, everything changed.

She came in quietly with a small group of people. But everyone was watching her.

Some great athletes are known for their records. Others are known for their personalities. Serena has both, but what stood out was her presence. The room seemed to change when she sat down.

She talked thoughtfully about why she came back, about maybe playing singles again at Wimbledon, and about what the future might hold. As expected, she did not give many clear answers. The mystery is still part of the story.

For the people who were lucky enough to be there, it was more than just headlines or quotes. It was about seeing one of the most influential athletes of our time return to the sport she helped define.

Over a few hours at Queen's, people's feelings changed from excitement to fear to amazement.

It was clear why Serena Williams is still so popular after all these years.

Some athletes leave their sport when they retire.

Serena Williams never really left tennis.

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