Serena Williams falls in Wimbledon singles comeback

Serena Williams' highly anticipated return to singles tennis ended in defeat on Tuesday as 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint beat the 44-year-old, seven-time Wimbledon champion 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 in a gripping first-round match on Centre Court.sports.yahoo+1

A Defiant Second Set

Williams, playing her first singles match in nearly four years since the 2022 U.S. Open, showed flashes of her former dominance despite the loss. In a valiant second set, she halted a five-game run from Joint, saved a match point in the tiebreak, and delivered a 122-mph serve to force a decider. The match lasted over two hours as the packed Centre Court crowd cheered Williams throughout.sports.yahoo

Joint, who was ranked as high as No. 28 in the WTA rankings but had endured a difficult 3-15 start to 2026, said afterward that she "had the belief" to overcome the 23-time Grand Slam champion. Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian and their two daughters, Olympia and Adira, watched from the stands alongside sister Venus Williams.greenwichtime+2

"I Enjoyed the Moment More Than Anything"

Williams, who received a wild card from the All England Club, did not attend a post-match press conference but released a statement to media. "It was really great to be back at Wimbledon. I never expected to be here," she said. "The atmosphere was amazing. Walking out was amazing. I definitely relished it and missed it and enjoyed the moment more than anything."sports.yahoo

Doubles With Venus Still to Come

Though her singles run is over, Williams will remain at the All England Club to play doubles alongside Venus. The sisters are scheduled to face South American duo Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in the first round of women's doubles on Thursday, July 2 — their first doubles match together in four years.olympics+1