Wimbledon 2026 results: Serena Williams falls in first match from 2022 against Maya Joint

After four years of retirement, 44-year-old Serena Williams returned to the main singles tournament on Tuesday evening on Center Court at Wimbledon against 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint. Nerves were evident on both sides, but in the end Joint was able to win in three sets (6-3, 6-7, 6-3) over the legend to spoil his comeback.

Williams has played doubles in two warm-up events, but Tuesday’s nightcap on Center Court was her first singles match since 2022. The big question ahead is how quickly Williams can shake off the rust and what the 23-time grand slam champion has left in the tank after so long off the court.

In the morning he showed good signs, making it easy for him to serve his first three service games and playing a little on Joint’s serve, producing two break points in the seventh game of the match. However, after failing to convert those opportunities into her best debut, it was Williams who blinked. Two double faults in his next service game allowed Joint to break in the first break of the match to go up 5-3, and despite being pushed to serve, he held on to hold and take the first set 6-3.

The second set was all over the place, as Joint and Williams traded breaks with momentum swinging back and forth. Both players had opportunities to consolidate breaks and take control of the set, but neither could capitalize as tensions built on Center Court.

The 11th game of the set, tied at 5-5 with Williams serving, was an example of hard swings and the difficulty both players had in holding and maintaining any control. Joint jumped up 0-40 to get three break points that would not win him the whole game. Williams dug deep and hit back to tie things up at deuce, holding the advantage three times before getting the first point to force a long return from Joint.

Joint would easily hold in his final service game, effectively sending the set into a tiebreak. There, the two went back and forth on serve until Joint held the first game point at 6-5 with Williams serving, when the legend came up with one of the best serves in the T game and hit the winner into the net to stay alive. When it was Williams’ turn to have a point at 7-6, she didn’t miss the chance, forcing Joint into a long rally where the Australian eventually cruised long.

The Joint appeared to be teetering on the brink of collapse early in the third set. Williams took a break early in the morning and it looked like he might run away with the match, but as soon as Williams took over, he saw everything slip away. The 20-year-old stepped in and got a quick break back to level the set again at 2-2 and put the pressure back on Williams to hold her own.

Williams was broken at love in her next service game, as a failed consolidation of her morning break took all the wind out of her sails. Serena would hold in her next service game, but did not create the break point opportunity needed in the next two Joint service games to extend the match. Joint would have to fight hard to get through and get his first Wimbledon win over the top player.

Williams will continue her Wimbledon campaign in doubles later this week with her sister Venus, where some of the issues that have caused her problems against Joint will be alleviated. He struggled to cover the entire court against Joint, and when the Australian was able to move things around the middle of the court and push Williams to the edges, he was able to create advantages and winners. However, the way Williams fought back to win the second set was amazing and the effort she put in to get back on that stage and show that she still has a game to hang on to was great.