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.
