Serena Williams lost in the opening round at Wimbledon in her first singles match in almost 4 years
Listen to this article
Average 5 minutes
The audio version of this article was created by AI-based technology. It can be mispronounced. We are working with our partners to continuously review and improve the results.
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.
Williams, 44, was unable to dominate in her usual manner, beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by an opponent less than half her age, Australian Maya Joint, 20, in the opening round of Wimbledon.
“It was really nice to be back at Wimbledon. I didn’t expect to be here,” said Williams, who did not meet with the media after the match, in a statement released by Wimbledon organizers. “The atmosphere was amazing. The exit was amazing. I really enjoyed it and missed it and enjoyed the time more than anything.”
Williams displayed the same powerful serve and strong groundstrokes that led her to seven Wimbledon singles titles but the 87th-ranked Joint was able to handle the pace of the American elite and win many big points by hitting beyond Williams’ reach on Center Court.
“I don’t know what just happened, to be honest,” said Joint. “I didn’t get any sleep last night. I stayed up until 2 am thinking about it.
“He’s got such an aura, he’s a legend and this court has had a lot of big names play on it,” Joint added. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid, so this is crazy.”
While Williams played two doubles matches shortly before Wimbledon announced her comeback, she had not played a singles match since the 2022 US Open.
Williams has 98 career wins to one on the hallowed turf of the All England Club. In contrast, it was Joint’s first Wimbledon victory in his second appearance at the All England Club after losing in the opening round last year.
But Joint won the Wimbledon warmup near Eastbourne last year and knows how to play on grass.
A double match is yet to come
Williams, unranked in singles after being out for so long, was given wildcard invitations by Wimbledon organizers to play singles and doubles with older sister Venus. His doubles match will come later in the week.
Williams said the absence of her two daughters from school inspired her to come back and it was the first time her youngest daughter, Adira, who is almost three, saw her play singles. Adira was sitting next to her 8-year-old sister, Olympia, at the front of Serena’s players’ box.
A standing ovation
Williams was cheered as she entered the stadium before kick-off under a closed roof and several fans held up signs with messages such as “Welcome” and another wore a T-shirt that read “Unstoppable Queen.”
Williams hit a topspin lob winner in the opening set and then unleashed a 121 mph ace to tie the game at 3-3 in the first set. But Williams also double-faulted to lead to one break of the first set.
In the second, Williams came back from 0-40 and saved four break points to take a 6-5 lead. Williams then saved the match point in the tiebreaker with a big serve down the T followed by a forehand winner. Another big serve – up to 122 mph – set up Serena’s first position, which she converted when Joint missed a long forehand.
After winning the set, Williams quietly pumped her fist.
But Joint took over early in the third and Williams’ forehand went the distance on Joint’s third of the game to end the rally after 2 hours, 22 minutes.
Williams then smiled as she left the courtroom to a standing ovation.
Williams and Joint both had 37 unforced errors, with Joint leading the winners 40-26.
Zverev and Swiatek in advance
After the opening day came the victory of the No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, along with Novak Djokovic, French Open champion Alexander Zverev and defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek advanced to the second round on Tuesday.
In a match between strong servers, second-seeded Zverev beat Alexander Blockx 6-4, 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (0).
Swiatek, who was looking after her father and sister in the Royal Box, struggled on her serve and made nine double faults before defeating Taylor Townsend 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.
No. 2 Elena Rybakina also advanced, beating Lois Boisson 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
Fourth-seeded Ben Shelton, who reached the quarterfinals here last year, lost to 140th-ranked Otto Virtanen in five sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-6 (9).
Also, 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini beat Stan Wawrinka 6-7 (7), 7-6 (16), 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5). It was the last Wimbledon match for Wawrinka, who plans to retire at the end of the year.
