The crowd at Wimbledon erupted before Serena Williams even stepped onto Centre Court. Cheers intensified as the 23-time Grand Slam winner returned for her first singles match in nearly four years. Despite a defeat in three sets to a much younger opponent, 44-year-old Williams left to a loud applause with her daughters cheering her on.
Williams expressed her joy in a statement released by Wimbledon organizers, saying, “It was really great to be back at Wimbledon. I never expected to be here. The atmosphere was amazing.” She appreciated the unique experience, emphasizing how much she enjoyed it.
Facing 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia, Williams lost 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3. Her serving power, with speeds surpassing 120 mph, and her strong groundstrokes were still evident. However, her movement posed challenges, and Joint capitalized by effectively reaching beyond Williams’ shots. Williams had previously featured in two doubles matches to signal her return, following a singles hiatus post her 2022 U.S. Open appearance.
Joint acknowledged the significance of playing against Williams, referring to her as a legend. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid,” Joint remarked. With 98 career wins and seven titles at Wimbledon, Williams had an illustrious record at the tournament. In contrast, Joint’s win marked her inaugural Wimbledon victory, and she holds experience from a previous Eastbourne grass victory.
Williams received wild card invitations for both singles and doubles, partnering with her sister Venus. Her comeback was partly inspired by her daughters’ school break. Her youngest, Adira, and oldest, Olympia, witnessed the match from the front row.
The audience showed immense support, clapping and cheering when Williams was introduced. Signs held by fans expressed greetings like “Welcome Back,” and one fan wore a “Unstoppable Queen” shirt. Williams delivered impressive plays, including a topspin lob win and a 121 mph ace. Unfortunately, a double-fault cost her the first set. In the second set, Williams saved match points and converted a set point with a 122 mph serve, leading to a tiebreak victory. The third set saw Joint gain control, culminating in a match conclusion after 2 hours and 22 minutes.
Williams and Joint recorded 37 unforced errors each, while Joint led in winners 40-26.
Other notable performances followed Williams’ match. After initial victories from top seeds Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, French Open winner Alexander Zverev and defending champion Iga Swiatek progressed to the second round. Zverev defeated Alexander Blockx in a prolonged encounter. Swiatek, overcoming serve challenges, beat Taylor Townsend. Elena Rybakina also advanced, while Ben Shelton fell to Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen in a marathon five-set match. Additionally, 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini overcame Stan Wawrinka, marking Wawrinka’s last Wimbledon appearance before his planned retirement.