"Will this be her last Wimbledon? Probably," said Shriver. "It’s not just the age, but the auto-immune condition that has been affecting her. With a condition like that, the symptoms tend to get worst when you’re under a lot of stress, and the second week of a Grand Slam is very stressful."

Shriver can see the end for the five-time Wimbledon winner, who claimed her last title at the All England club in 2008 after a span of nine editions. .

"Four years is a long time when you’re in your thirties," said the 50-something Shriver. "She was the best grass-court player of generation – she wasn’t a better all-round player than her sister Serena, just the better grass-court player.

"If she can get the big serve going she can on a run. But I don’t think it’s going to be easy. And with every Wimbledon that goes by when she doesn’t win the title, it gets even harder for her the next time.”