Serena Williams is set to make her singles return to Wimbledon nearly four years after her last match at the tournament, accepting a wild card to compete in this year’s event. The 44-year-old seven-time Wimbledon champion will face world No. 87 Maya Joint on Centre Court, marking her first singles appearance at the All England Club since 2022.
Williams initially announced she would participate in doubles alongside her sister Venus Williams, but only eight days ago received the final wild card entry for the singles draw. Reflecting on the decision, she described it as a last-minute choice, acknowledging the rarity of being offered such an opportunity at Wimbledon. “I just wasn’t sure up until then. Honestly, I’m still not even sure, but we’ll see,” Williams said. “I thought not every day Wimbledon holds a wild card for someone. I can name probably like a handful of people. I happened to be one of those people.”
Williams added that she felt compelled to accept the invitation given her unique position and the chance to showcase her abilities once more on the sport’s biggest stages. “Who knows if I’ll ever make it here again? This could be it,” she said. “I was like, ‘What’s wrong with me, Serena? What are you thinking? Are you nuts? Like you really should do this.’ I have this great opportunity to showcase what I do best.”
Addressing the media at her first Wimbledon press conference in four years, Williams expressed a mixture of nostalgia and anticipation. She said she never imagined returning to this moment following her previous defeats, including a first-round loss to Harmony Tan in 2022. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, acknowledged her expectations have shifted. “My expectations are definitely different for the first time in my career. I feel like I’m really going to enjoy being out there.”
During her time away from professional play, Williams has closely followed developments on the tennis tour and expressed admiration for several current players. She singled out Aryna Sabalenka for her sustained Grand Slam success and intensity, while also highlighting rising stars Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva as competitors she finds impressive.
Andreeva, this year’s French Open champion, said she would have preferred to avoid facing Williams in her comeback match, underscoring the respect the younger generation holds for the American icon. Ultimately, it was Australia’s Jennifer “Maya” Joint who was drawn against Williams. The seven-time Wimbledon winner remarked on the challenge and the respect involved, stating, “I just think that’s an immense amount of respect, which is yet another reason why I love her.”
Williams’ return adds a significant storyline to this year’s Wimbledon Championships, as fans and competitors alike watch to see how one of tennis’ greatest athletes performs after a prolonged hiatus.