Serena Williams makes her singles return at Wimbledon 2026, facing Australia’s Maya Joint in the first round. The 44-year-old seven-time champion received a wil
Serena Williams is set to make her singles return at Wimbledon against Australian Maya Joint in the first round. The seven-time women’s champion at the All England Club received a wildcard entry for her singles comeback. Williams, aged 44, has not competed in singles since the US Open in 2022.
Maya Joint, aged 20, previously lost in the first round during her Wimbledon main-draw debut last year. She has secured only one victory in her last 14 matches. Williams’ return to singles action has generated considerable interest, especially given her status as a 23-time singles Grand Slam champion.
The draw ceremony at the All England Club saw significant anticipation surrounding Williams’ placement. As a wildcard entry, she could have faced a top-ranked player like Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek, or a lower-ranked player from outside the top 100. Her match against Joint is viewed as potentially winnable.
Williams is accustomed to being a central figure in the tennis world, and her return on Tuesday is expected to draw attention, likely on Centre Court. Should she advance, she might play 29th seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines next, with a possible third-round encounter against Iga Swiatek.
Prior to Wimbledon, Williams participated in two doubles matches as part of her comeback. She will also compete in the Wimbledon doubles event alongside her older sister Venus Williams, aged 46. The sisters have won the Wimbledon doubles title six times.
In other women’s singles matches, British number one Emma Raducanu, seeded 30th, is scheduled to face Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic. Concerns about Raducanu’s fitness have arisen after she missed practice due to a shin injury. She could potentially meet top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, a repeat of their match at Wimbledon last year.
Reigning women’s champion Iga Swiatek will begin her title defence against American Taylor Townsend. Swiatek aims to become the first player since Williams in 2016 to win consecutive Wimbledon titles.
Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, will start her campaign against Teodora Kostovic of Serbia. Jessica Pegula, seeded fourth, is set to play Darja Vidmanova of the Czech Republic. Other notable women’s first-round matches include Magda Linette against Mirra Andreeva, Tamara Korpatsch versus Coco Gauff, and Lois Boisson taking on Elena Rybakina.
In the men’s draw, Britain’s Jack Draper faces a challenging first-round match against American sixth seed Taylor Fritz. Draper is returning from a series of injury issues and has reached the semi-finals at Eastbourne in his first tournament since April. His coaching team now includes Andy Murray.
Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic will start his bid for a 25th Grand Slam title against China’s Wu Yibing. World number one Jannik Sinner, who experienced an early exit at the French Open in May, will play Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic as he seeks to defend his Wimbledon title.
However, Carlos Alcaraz will not be participating in the tournament as he continues to recover from a wrist injury. This absence impacts the men’s draw, potentially creating a more open field.
The British contingent in the singles draws is substantial, aided by numerous wildcards from the All England Club. Cameron Norrie, seeded 26th, is the highest-ranked Briton and will play American qualifier Michael Zheng. Norrie could face Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the third round.
Other British players who secured spots through ranking include Katie Boulter, Francesca Jones, and Jan Choinski. Twelve Britons received wildcards, with six men and six women. Three players, Ollie Tarvet, Billy Harris, and Max Basing, successfully qualified after winning three matches this week, marking the highest number of home players to qualify since 1999.
Additional men’s first-round matches include Casper Ruud against Hubert Hurkacz, Marin Cilic versus Daniil Medvedev, Roberto Bautista Agut playing Joao Fonseca, Stan Wawrinka against Matteo Berrettini, and Alexander Blockx facing Alexander Zverev.
The Wimbledon tournament is scheduled to run from June 29 to July 12 at the All England Club.
Williams’ return and potential path
Serena Williams’ return to singles tennis after a four-year break has generated considerable discussion. Her last competitive singles match was at the 2022 U.S. Open. Williams’ decision to return at Wimbledon has been noted by former players, with some highlighting the challenge of starting on grass after a long absence.
Former world number one Andy Roddick commented on Williams’ confidence in choosing Wimbledon for her comeback. Another former Grand Slam champion, Lindsay Davenport, suggested Williams would only return if she believed she could make an immediate impact. Davenport also noted the physical demands of grass courts, describing the surface as tough for a comeback.
Since Williams won the 2016 title, there have been eight different women’s champions at Wimbledon, indicating increased depth in the women’s game. While players like Naomi Osaka, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, Rybakina, and Ash Barty have won multiple Grand Slam titles, no single player has dominated as Williams did in her prime.
The last six Grand Slams have seen six different winners. Aryna Sabalenka has been ranked world number one since October 2024, but her recent performances have shown vulnerability. Her build-up to Wimbledon included a significant loss in Berlin, where she lost a deciding set 6-0 to Jessica Pegula.
Men’s contenders and key absences
Novak Djokovic arrives at Wimbledon with an opportunity to claim a standalone 25th Grand Slam title. The grass court surface is often considered favorable for his playing style. The draw appears to have tilted in his favor due to the absence of Carlos Alcaraz and concerns over Jannik Sinner’s physical condition following an early exit at the French Open.
Djokovic demonstrated flashes of his enduring quality earlier in the season, reaching the Australian Open final and defeating Sinner during that run. Despite an injury-disrupted clay campaign and an early loss at Roland Garros, Djokovic is considered well-placed for a deep run at a venue where he has lifted the trophy seven times.
The absence of Carlos Alcaraz due to a wrist injury has reshaped the men’s landscape at Wimbledon. This makes Jannik Sinner the clear favorite, despite his underwhelming French Open performance. Alcaraz’s absence also removes the possibility of another “Sincaraz” final, potentially paving the way for a new name in the men’s final since Djokovic defeated Nick Kyrgios in 2022.
Alexander Zverev, who recently won a title at the French Open, will be looking to add another major. Several other players will aim to capitalize on the more open field to make a surprise title run. The Wimbledon tournament is scheduled to begin on June 29.
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Source: bbc.com
