Serena Williams, 44, is competing in singles at Wimbledon 2026 for the first time since the 2022 U.S. Open, marking a comeback after almost four years without singles matches [1, 2, 3]. Williams also plays doubles with her sister Venus, 46, facing Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in the first round [4].
Novak Djokovic, 39 and seven-time Wimbledon champion, called Williams' return "inspirational" and "epic." Djokovic said he sees her training harder than ever, "more than when she was at her prime," adding, "For her to come back after years of being absent from the tour, two children later, and to give so much effort... is remarkable" [1, 4, 5].
Williams, who has 23 Grand Slam singles titles, could win her eighth Wimbledon singles crown this year [2, 3, 4, 5]. Such a victory would be considered one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time [1, 6, 4]. Fellow players and fans at Wimbledon have expressed excitement over her return. American player Ben Shelton called her dedication "insanely impressive," noting her status as "one of the biggest icons in sports history" [1, 3]. Aryna Sabalenka said Williams' presence "is a good thing for tennis" and "bringing more eyes on tennis." Caroline Wozniacki described Williams as "the greatest female player of all time," praising her fitness, serve speed, and movement at 44 years old [4, 5].
Djokovic is also competing at Wimbledon 2026. He aims for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title and to capture his eighth Wimbledon title [1, 6, 5]. Djokovic opens against China's Wu Yibing, while Williams faces Australia's Maya Joint in their respective first-round singles matches [1, 4, 5].
Djokovic has played only seven matches in three events since January while recovering from a shoulder injury, losing at the 2026 Roland Garros third round to João Fonseca [7].
Wimbledon 2026 officially began on June 28, with fans keen to watch the high-profile singles matches involving Djokovic and Williams [5].
