Serena Williams Returns to Wimbledon for First Singles Match in Four Years

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: Serena Williams waves to the crowd after her first‑round loss to Harmony Tan at Wimbledon 2022. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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Serena Williams is set to play her first competitive singles match in almost four years when she steps onto Centre Court for a first‑round Wimbledon clash on Tuesday.

The 44‑year‑old, who last appeared in a singles draw at the 2022 U.S. Open, will meet Australian qualifier Maya Joint, currently ranked No. 53 worldwide.

The match is slated for Tuesday evening in London, following the opening contest featuring defending champion Iga Swiatek and the match between No. 6 seed Taylor Fritz and Britain’s Jack Draper.

When Williams takes the court during the tournament, which runs from June 29 to July 12, it will mark more than 1,400 days since she last competed in a singles match at the All‑England Club.

“Serena is obviously the greatest female player of all time,” her close friend and former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki said on “Morning Joe.”

“She’s the toughest competitor I’ve ever played. If anyone can do it, she can… She’s serving at 120 mph, her shoulder feels great, she’s moving well, she’s super fit. And I think she just realized, ‘Wow, I’m ahead of where I thought I was going to be on the schedule.’ It’s going to be great to see her, I’m very excited, obviously.”

If Williams wins on Tuesday, she could meet No. 29 seed Alex Eala in the second round.

A victory in the third round would set up a matchup with defending champion and No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek.

A win would also make Williams the fourth‑oldest woman to claim a main‑draw match in the Open Era, trailing only Martina Navratilova, who won at Wimbledon in 2004 at age 47.

Williams has captured seven Wimbledon titles, most recently in 2016, and reached the final in 2018 and 2019 while chasing a record‑tying 24th major.

“Serena is one of my close friends,” Wozniacki added, “so to see her back on a tennis court, not only as a fan but as a friend, I’m really, really excited.”

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