Serena falls in 3-set Wimbledon thriller in return...

Associated Press

Jun 30, 2026, 05:01 PM ET

LONDON -- Serena Williams showed plenty of what made her a 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion in her first professional singles match in nearly four years on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old Williams wasn't quite able to dominate like she used to, though, and was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by an opponent less than half her age, 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia, in the opening round of Wimbledon.

Williams displayed the same powerful serve and heavy groundstrokes that led her to seven Wimbledon singles titles, but the 87th-ranked Joint was able to handle the American standout's pace and win more of the big points by hitting beyond Williams' reach on Centre Court.

"I don't know what just happened, to be honest," Joint said. "I didn't get much sleep last night. I was up until like 2 a.m. just thinking about it.

"She has such an aura, she's just a legend and this court has so many huge names that have played on it," Joint added. "I've been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid, so this is pretty crazy."

While Williams played two doubles matches just before Wimbledon to announce her comeback to the sport she once dominated, she hadn't played a singles match since the 2022 US Open.

Williams has 98 career victories in singles on the hallowed grass of the All England Club. By contrast, it was Joint's first Wimbledon victory in just her second appearance at the All England Club after losing in the opening round last year.

But Joint won a Wimbledon warmup in nearby Eastbourne last year, and she knows how to play on grass.

Williams, who has no singles ranking after being out for so long, was given wild-card invitations by Wimbledon organizers to play singles and also doubles with older sister Venus. The doubles match will come later in the week.

Serena Williams has said that having her two daughters off from school inspired her comeback. Tuesday's match marked the first time her youngest daughter, Adria, who is almost 3, saw her play singles. Adira sat next to her 8-year-old sister, Olympia, in the front row of the player's box.

Williams was given a standing ovation as she walked on court before the match started under a closed roof. Several supporters held up signs with messages such as "Welcome Back," and one wore a T-shirt with the text, "Unstoppable Queen."

Williams executed a delicate topspin lob winner early on then cranked out a 121 mph ace to hold for 3-3 in the first set. But Williams also had a costly double fault that led to the only break of the first set.

In the second set, Williams came back from 0-40 and saved four break points to hold for 6-5. Then Williams saved a match point in the tiebreaker with a big serve down the T followed by a forehand approach winner. Another big serve -- clocking in at 122 mph -- set up Serena's first set point, which she converted when Joint missed a forehand long.

After winning the set, Williams pumped her fist calmly.

But Joint took control early in the third, and a forehand from Williams sailed long on Joint's third match point to conclude the encounter after 2 hours, 22 minutes.

Williams then smiled as she walked off the court to loud applause.

Williams and Joint each had 37 unforced errors, while Joint led 40-26 in winners.