Serena Williams Draws Maya Joint in Wimbledon Singles Return After Four-Year Break

Posted : 26 June 2026

Serena Williams is set to make her long-awaited return to Wimbledon singles after being drawn against Australia’s Maya Joint in the opening round, marking her first appearance in the competition’s singles draw in four years.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, who retired in 2022, has been handed a wildcard entry into the tournament where she has previously lifted the title seven times. Her return follows recent appearances in doubles events at Queen’s Club and the Berlin Open earlier this month, signalling a competitive comeback to professional tennis.

Williams, now 44, has not played a singles match since the 2022 US Open, which was widely believed to be her final appearance before stepping away from the sport. However, she recently reversed that decision, explaining that her return was inspired in part by a desire to compete again in front of her two daughters.

Her first-round opponent, Maya Joint, is ranked 53rd in the world and has struggled for form in recent months, winning just one of her last 14 matches. Should Williams advance, she could face rising Filipino star Alexandra Eala in the second round, followed by a potential blockbuster clash with defending champion Iga Świątek in the third round.

Williams has been training at Wimbledon over the past week as she prepares for the physical demands of singles tennis after a lengthy absence. While she showed encouraging form in her doubles appearances—winning one match alongside Victoria Mboko—she also experienced a first-round exit in Berlin with partner Karolína Muchová.

Her return to Wimbledon also comes with added intrigue as she partners her sister Venus in the doubles competition, a pairing that has previously brought them six Wimbledon titles together.

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, defending champion Jannik Sinner will begin his campaign against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanović. The world No. 1, a four-time Grand Slam winner, returns to action after a surprise early exit at the French Open and will look to secure a second Wimbledon crown.

Novak Djokovic will also begin his latest quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title against China’s Wu Yibing. The 39-year-old Serbian star, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, has not won the tournament since 2022 and continues to chase further major success after recent final defeats to Carlos Alcaraz.

Serena Williams Draws Maya Joint in Wimbledon Singles Return After Four-Year Break

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