The spotlight at Wimbledon 2026 firmly belongs to Serena Williams. Four years after stepping away from professional singles tennis, the seven-time Wimbledon champion is set for one of the most anticipated comebacks in Grand Slam history. The American legend has been handed a first round clash against Australia’s Maya Joint following Friday’s official draw, marking her return to singles competition on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
At 44, Williams has accepted a wild card into the singles draw while also partnering with her sister Venus Williams in the women’s doubles event. The tournament presents an opportunity for one of tennis’ greatest icons to once again compete where she has enjoyed some of the most memorable moments of her illustrious career.
Williams has not featured in a Grand Slam singles match since the 2022 US Open, where her third round defeat to Ajla Tomljanovic appeared to signal the end of an extraordinary career. Earlier that year, she had suffered a first round exit at Wimbledon against France’s Harmony Tan. Following her US Open farewell, Williams famously said she was “evolving away” from tennis, leading many to believe retirement was permanent.
However, the former world number one stunned the sporting world earlier this month by announcing her return. Her comeback has been driven by a personal motivation to compete in front of her two young daughters, adding an emotional dimension to one of the biggest stories of the tennis season.
Williams has already taken her first steps back onto the professional circuit through doubles appearances at the Queen’s Club Championships and the Berlin Open. She partnered rising Canadian Victoria Mboko to secure a victory at Queen’s before teaming up with Karolina Muchova in Berlin, where the pair exited in the opening round. Those outings provided valuable match practice ahead of her return to singles competition.
Her opening opponent, 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint, currently ranked World No. 53, arrives at Wimbledon looking to reverse a difficult run of form after winning only one of her last 14 matches. While Williams enters without recent singles experience, her unmatched pedigree on grass makes the contest one of the most intriguing first round encounters of the tournament.
Should Williams overcome Joint, she is projected to meet 29th seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in the second round. A victory there could pave the way for a blockbuster third round showdown against reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, who begins her title defence against American Taylor Townsend.
The physical demands of Grand Slam singles tennis remain the biggest question surrounding Williams’ comeback. Although she has remained active and has spent the past week practising extensively on Wimbledon courts, competing over potentially seven best-of-three-set matches represents an entirely different challenge.
Williams’ achievements at the All England Club remain among the greatest in the tournament’s history. She has lifted the Wimbledon singles trophy seven times and owns 23 Grand Slam singles titles overall, placing her second only to Margaret Court on the all-time list. Her most recent major triumph came at the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant with her first child, a victory widely regarded as one of the sport’s most remarkable accomplishments.
In doubles, Serena and Venus Williams will reunite in pursuit of another Wimbledon title. The legendary sisters have captured six Wimbledon doubles crowns together and remain one of the most successful partnerships in tennis history. Away from the women’s draw, defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner begins his campaign against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.
The Italian world number one returns after a surprising second round defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo at the French Open in May and will be aiming to secure his second Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam crown.
With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined as he continues recovering from a wrist injury, Sinner enters the tournament as the clear favourite for the men’s title. Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic starts his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title against China’s Wu Yibing. The 39-year-old Serbian has not won Wimbledon since 2022, while his most recent major title came at the 2023 US Open.
He finished runner-up to Alcaraz in both the 2024 Wimbledon final and this year’s Australian Open final. Second seed Alexander Zverev, fresh from his French Open triumph, faces Belgium’s Alexander Blockx in the opening round. Meanwhile, 41-year-old Stan Wawrinka will begin what is expected to be his final Wimbledon appearance against former finalist Matteo Berrettini.
In the women’s competition, top seed Aryna Sabalenka launches her pursuit of a maiden Wimbledon title against Serbia’s Teodora Kostovic. Britain’s Emma Raducanu has been drawn against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic, although concerns remain over her fitness after reports suggested she missed a practice session while wearing a protective boot.
As Wimbledon prepares for another fortnight of world class tennis, the draw has produced several compelling storylines. Yet none carries greater anticipation than Serena Williams’ remarkable return. Whether the American can once again challenge the sport’s elite remains uncertain, but her presence alone has transformed the opening week into one of the most eagerly awaited in recent Wimbledon history.
