Serena Williams loses in singles return at Wimbledon
The 44-year-old tennis legend played her first singles match in four years, losing to Australia's Maya Joint 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3.
Serena Williams walked onto Wimbledon's Centre Court on Tuesday evening, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and smiled at the ovation. The 44-year-old has repeatedly said she has nothing left to prove, but this was her first singles match since 2022.
The match against Australia's Maya Joint ended 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3. Williams started slowly, recovered in the second set, but faded in the third. Despite the loss, she showed glimpses of her former dominance. Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said on BBC Radio 5 Live that Williams played at an incredible level, even better than she did four years ago.
However, Williams' movement was exposed by Joint, as she often found herself off balance or unable to react. She had only played two doubles matches before this singles return. The next major is the US Open, where Williams played what was assumed to be her final singles match in 2022. Annabel Croft questioned whether her body can hold up to the demands of a return.
Williams improved as the match went on but ran out of steam in the third set. She still showed flashes of brilliance with her serve and return, but overall it was not vintage Williams.
