Serena Falls, but Isn’t Done

Morning Edition

July 1, 2026

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Serena Williams’s return was the story of Wimbledon on Tuesday. Despite the crowds cheering her on, the 23-time Grand Slam winner lost to 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint in three sets. Williams, 44, isn’t yet done at the grass-court tournament. She’ll team with her sister, Venus, in women’s doubles starting Thursday.

—Daniel Roberts and Colin Salao

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Serena Williams Loses in Return to Singles at Wimbledon

Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

LONDON — Serena Williams’s return was the story of the day at Wimbledon on Tuesday. But she was unable to deliver a victory for the London crowd.

Williams, 44, took Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club on Tuesday for her first singles match since the 2022 US Open and was greeted by raucous cheers. However, the pro-Williams crowd could not carry her as she fell in three sets (6–3, 6–7, 6–3) to Maya Joint, a 20-year-old Australian.

After the loss, Williams did not participate in a post-match press conference. Instead, the event informed reporters of a statement from Williams:

“It was really great to be back at Wimbledon. I never expected to be here. The atmosphere was amazing. Walking out was amazing. I definitely relished it and missed it and enjoyed the moment more than anything.”

Williams’s return to competition began in doubles earlier this month at the HSBC Championships with Victoria Mboko. The duo won their opening-round match but withdrew after Mboko sustained an injury.

At the Berlin Open the following week, Williams teamed with Karolína Muchová, but the two lost their first match.

It was widely expected the last remaining singles wild-card slot at Wimbledon was being held for her, but not made official until one week before the tournament.

American fan Gloria Boyd told Front Office Sports she was most excited about seeing Williams.

“I really lucked out in terms of picking this date. I knew she was coming back for doubles, but to get to see her play singles is so cool, having seen her play in one of her last US Opens, and now, two babies later, here she is. Full circle.”

IBM marketing executive Kameryn Stanhouse described Williams’s presence as a “game-changer” in terms of the attention the sport can receive.

Despite the loss, Williams’s time at Wimbledon is not done. She will team with her sister, Venus, in women’s doubles starting Thursday. The Williams sisters are six-time doubles champions at Wimbledon.

It’s unclear how much Williams will play after Wimbledon.

The tennis calendar’s North American swing starts in late July with the DC Open, where Venus made her triumphant singles return last year. It’s capped off by the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the calendar.

SPONSORED BY E*TRADE FROM MORGAN STANLEY

Josh Childress on Building a Portfolio After the NBA

A Stanford degree, eight years in the NBA, and a portfolio that now spans real estate, professional basketball, and sports ownership—Josh Childress has built a second career that most athletes only talk about.

Childress joins Portfolio Players, presented by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, to break down how he thinks about sports as an investment class, why he believes NBA expansion is inevitable, and what the NIL era means for the next generation of college athletes with his profile. He also gets into private equity in sports, the Las Vegas market, and the mentorship advice that has guided everything he has built since his playing days.

Watch now.

ONE BIG FIG

Big Refund

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) sports her signature Nike Caitlin 1 shoe while warming up Thursday, June 18, 2026, during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Star

$986 million

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LOUD AND CLEAR

Outlook for Team USA

Rob Stone speaks during the Fox Sports Big Noon Kickoff NCAA football pregame show, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at the Pentacrest in Iowa City, Iowa.

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

“You play the World Cup to get through the three group-stage games and get to this dance, which is where you really shine. The U.S. has higher aspirations than just getting out of the group and getting to the round of 32.”

—Fox Sports analyst Rob Stone ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup knockout stage matchup between the U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Front Office Sports spoke with Stone about the tournament and the U.S. team in particular, which he says has been “electric from the start.”

If the USMNT loses, Stone says it would definitely be a disappointment: “Anything can happen, but when you step back from it and look at what the U.S. was expecting of themselves in this tournament, they would tell you round of 32 was just the beginning.” Read the story.