Serena Williams of the United States stirred excitement on Centre Court at Wimbledon. The 23-time Grand Slam champion returned to singles play after a nearly four-year absence, facing 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia.
The crowd erupted in cheers when Williams took the court. Despite her three-set loss to Joint, the match was a milestone for the 44-year-old as her daughters, Adira and Olympia, watched from the stands.
It was really great to be back at Wimbledon. I never expected to be here,”Williams shared in a statement. She expressed her appreciation for the crowd’s support and her enjoyment of the moment.
Williams showcased her powerful serving, reaching speeds over 120 mph. However, Joint’s steady play and ability to handle Williams’ pace led to her victory with a final score of 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3.
Williams’ Comeback
Before this match, Williams had played in two doubles contests to mark her return to professional tennis. She had not competed in a singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open.
Williams has an impressive record at Wimbledon, with 98 victories and seven singles titles. For Joint, this win marked her first victory at the All England Club, where she lost in the opening round last year.
Doubles Partnership
Williams received a wild card entry from Wimbledon to compete alongside her sister Venus in doubles, which is scheduled for later in the week.
Her daughters inspired her return, with Adira witnessing her mother play singles for the first time. Fans welcomed Williams back with a standing ovation, holding signs like “Welcome Back.”
Match Highlights
Despite some errors, Williams’ performance was notable with her signature 121 mph ace and strategic play to overcome challenging points in the second set. Joint clinched the match in the third set, finishing with both players committing 37 unforced errors. Joint led in winners, 40 to 26.
Other Wimbledon Advancements
A long day of tennis also saw victories by Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Novak Djokovic. Alexander Zverev defeated Alexander Blockx in a tense match with multiple tiebreakers. Iga Swiatek advanced with a win over Taylor Townsend despite initial serving struggles.
Elena Rybakina also moved forward, beating Lois Boisson. Ben Shelton, however, faced an unexpected loss to Otto Virtanen after battling through five sets.
Elsewhere, Matteo Berrettini triumphed over Stan Wawrinka in what was Wawrinka’s final Wimbledon match before his planned retirement.