Serena Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion and 23-time Grand Slam winner, will make her singles comeback at Wimbledon after almost four years away from competitive singles tennis [1, 2, 3]. Williams received the final singles wildcard entry for the tournament and will face 44-year-old Australian world number 53 Maya Joint in the first round of Wimbledon 2026 [1, 2, 4, 5].
Williams last played singles at the 2022 US Open, thought to be her farewell event [2, 4]. This month she returned to competitive tennis with doubles appearances at Queen’s Club and the Berlin Open before withdrawing from singles due to an injury scare [4, 5]. Williams also received a doubles wildcard to partner her sister Venus at Wimbledon [4, 6].
If Williams wins her opening match, she could face 29th seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in round two, then defending champion and world number 3 Iga Swiatek in round three [4, 6]. Swiatek will start her title defense against American Taylor Townsend and said, "I know that changes won’t bring immediate results, and I try to believe that I’m on the right path" [7].
At 44, Williams attempts to become the oldest woman to win a singles match at Wimbledon since Martina Navratilova at 47 in 2004 [1]. She has lost about 20 pounds using weight-loss drugs and is working with coach Rennae Stubbs to prepare [1, 5]. Williams said her comeback helps her share her sport profession with her children Olympia and Adira [8].
Other top seeds include world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who will open against Serbian qualifier Teodora Kostovic, and second seed Elena Rybakina, facing France’s Lois Boisson [3, 9]. British number one Emma Raducanu, seeded 30th, faces Antonia Ruzic but has fitness concerns over a shin injury [2, 6].
The Wimbledon women’s singles tournament begins Monday, June 29, 2026 [7, 9]. Williams' first-round match against Maya Joint will be a key early test as she seeks to reestablish herself on the singles stage.
