Serena Williams is set to make her Wimbledon return on Tuesday, June 30, facing Australia's Maya Joint in the first round on Centre Court. The 44-year-old, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, accepted a wildcard invitation after initially doubting her readiness. This marks her first singles match since the 2022 US Open, where she announced her retirement but later returned to competitive tennis this month.
Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, admitted to feeling nervous ahead of her comeback. 'I expect to be nervous,' she said at her Wimbledon press conference. 'I was also nervous every single match I ever played in my life.' She described her decision to accept the wildcard as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, stating, 'I thought I should really take this opportunity. Who knows if I'll ever make it here again.'
Williams has also teamed up with her sister, Venus, for the doubles tournament. The duo, who have won six Wimbledon doubles titles together, will face Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in their first-round match on Thursday, July 2. Meanwhile, rising star Coco Gauff, who has defeated Venus Williams twice in singles, expressed admiration for both sisters. 'I played the sport because of them, believed that I could do things because of them, and I still look up to them a lot,' Gauff said.
Williams' return has drawn significant attention, with the All England Club scheduling her match as the third on Centre Court. She has played doubles matches at Queen’s Club and Berlin to prepare for the grass-court tournament. Despite her uncertainty, Williams emphasized her love for the game, saying, 'I feel like I'm really going to enjoy being out there.'