Tennis legend and seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams will make her long-awaited return to singles competition at Wimbledon after being drawn against Australia’s Maya in the opening round.
The 44-year-old American, who has not played a competitive singles match since the 2022 US Open, accepted a wildcard into the tournament, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent tennis history.
Williams returns to the All England Club, where she captured seven Wimbledon singles titles and established herself as one of the greatest grass-court players in the sport’s history. Her comeback adds significant intrigue to this year’s championship as she attempts to resume her career nearly four years after stepping away from the tour.
Her first opponent, 20-year-old Maya Joint, currently ranked world number 53, enters the contest struggling for form. The Australian has won only one of her last 14 matches and suffered a first-round exit during her Wimbledon main-draw debut last year.
British hopes will largely rest with home favourite Emma Raducanu, who has been drawn against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic in the opening round.
However, concerns have emerged about Raducanu’s fitness after the British number one missed practice on Thursday due to a shin problem. The 30th seed faces a potentially difficult route through the tournament, with a third-round meeting against world number one Aryna Sabalenka a possibility.
Raducanu and Sabalenka also met at Wimbledon last year, making a repeat encounter one of the most intriguing prospects in the women’s draw.
The men’s draw has also produced a challenging assignment for British star Jack Draper, who will face American sixth seed Taylor Fritz in the opening round.
Draper continues his return from a series of injury setbacks and recently reached the semi-finals at Eastbourne in his first tournament since April. The British left-hander has also added former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray to his coaching team as he seeks to rebuild his career.
Yet the biggest storyline surrounding this year’s championships remains Serena Williams’ remarkable return. At 44, the American icon will once again step onto Centre Court carrying not only her remarkable legacy but also the hopes of fans eager to witness one of tennis’ greatest champions compete once more on the sport’s grandest stage.
