Serena Williams will participate in singles at Wimbledon 2026 after being awarded a wild card entry, the tournament confirmed on Sunday. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, last competed in singles at the 2022 U.S. Open, concluding the first phase of her remarkable career in a three-set match against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović.
After making her comeback with doubles appearances on grass courts and securing a wild card for the Wimbledon doubles event alongside her sister Venus, Serena, who is now 44, will return to the singles format at a Grand Slam where she has triumphed seven times. During press events in London and Berlin, she expressed mixed feelings about playing singles again.
At Queen’s Club, where she secured her first victory with Canada’s Victoria Mboko, Williams remarked, “I plan on training a bit more. I aim to play singles again. If I achieve that, great, and if not, that’s not my path currently.”
At the Berlin Tennis Open, following a defeat alongside Karolína Muchová from the Czech Republic, she was circumspect regarding a singles wild card for Wimbledon. Initially, only wild card entries for doubles including Serena’s pairing with Venus were announced. She received the remaining wild card for the women’s singles draw.
Serena consistently kept the possibility of a return open, preferring the term “evolving away” from tennis rather than labeling it as “retirement.” Her children are currently 8 and 3, and she expressed that part of her motivation to return was for them to witness her passion and dedication to the sport.
After completing six months in tennis’ anti-doping testing pool, Williams became eligible to participate in tournaments starting from February. Her appearance on the testing pool list last December sparked rumors of a comeback, which she dismissed on social media with a clear message stating she was not planning to return. However, during an interview on the “Today” show in January, when given the chance to dispel the comeback rumors, she humorously remarked, “If I want to put it to bed … Listen, I want to go to bed — it’s early.”
Williams’ representatives did not provide comments regarding her return at Queen’s or her plans for Wimbledon. Her last victories at Wimbledon took place in 2016, where she and Venus also claimed the doubles title. After her “evolution” post-2022 U.S. Open, many believed this signaled the end of a magnificent career filled with exceptional accomplishments.
Williams holds an unmatched record in the Open Era with 23 singles Grand Slam titles, supplemented by 14 in women’s doubles and 2 in mixed doubles. Throughout her career, Williams accumulated 73 singles titles and nearly $95 million in prize earnings, becoming a substantial crossover icon and cultural figure.
Williams transformed tennis by redefining the game’s dynamics, roles, and audience perceptions. Her competitive comeback will likely pit her against today’s tennis stars, like Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina, all of whom admired her or regarded her as inspirational during their formative years.
Her singles return is a test for her fundamental belief, as she disclosed in a press conference at Queen’s. Reflecting on her decorated career, she stated, “I don’t need to win. I’ve achieved more than most people manage in their lives. I have nothing to lose; everything is a gain.”
Analysis from senior tennis writer Charlie Eccleshare
The prospect of Serena participating in Wimbledon doubles alongside Venus four years after Serena’s last professional match is major news. The announcement of her singles wild card on Sunday night indicates this comeback is gaining momentum.
Her participation in Grand Slam doubles at age 44 is remarkable, but singles competition is substantially more challenging, requiring intense physical investment. While doubles gave her the chance to display readiness with a victory and respectable defeat, singles demand more. At times during her doubles comeback, Williams appeared understandably rusty when necessitated to move extensively.
Serena’s serve remains formidable, especially on grass courts, which could mitigate the physical challenges posed by opponents half her age. Additionally, her renowned presence could unsettle nerves of some challengers. During Williams’ return match at Queen’s, Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez struggled under her aura in a packed venue.
For her first-round singles opponent, facing Williams on Centre Court will be highly daunting — a historic encounter drawing intense media attention. While Martina Navratilova’s return aged 47 after a decade of absence was notable, Serena’s return in current media landscape heightens anticipation.
Winning matches at Wimbledon under present conditions would be noteworthy. Although expectations exist for miracles due to Williams’ legacy, maintaining perspective is crucial. Williams expressed during a recent interview that her return doesn’t stem from the necessity to win more titles, but from the chance to share her love for tennis with her children.
Observing how this perspective evolves will be interesting, as lingering without favorable outcomes is improbable for Williams. Regardless of her performance at Wimbledon, adding singles competition to doubles marks what may be one of tennis history’s most thrilling developments.