Serena Williams’ Wimbledon singles return ended in a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 first-round defeat to Australia’s Maya Joint on Centre Court on Tuesday.
Williams, 44, was playing her first singles match in four years after accepting a wild card into the Wimbledon 2026 draw.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion saved two match points and forced a deciding set in a two-hour, 22-minute match.
Williams’s joint broke in the eighth game before serving out the opening set. Williams responded in the second set and won a tense tie-break after saving a match point.
The Americans led by a break in the final set, but the Japanese broke twice to move 4-2 ahead. Williams closed out the match when a forehand went long on match point.
Williams said in a short statement that it was great to be back at Wimbledon and that she enjoyed the moment. Williams declined to take on routine media duties after the match.
Read: Serena Williams Wimbledon Return Faces Maya Joint
Williams was the second-oldest player to contest the Wimbledon women’s singles in the Open era after Martina Navratilova. Her Wimbledon campaign will continue in doubles with her sister, Venus Williams.
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