Williams to begin Wimbledon comeback against Joint

During the 25-minute women's draw ceremony at the All England Club, the wait for one name—and its placement—brought a sense of anticipation like none of the other 127. Serena Williams, a 23-time singles Grand Slam champion, finally confirmed her return to singles action, sparking deep intrigue about her opponent.

As a wildcard entry, Williams could have been drawn against a top seed like Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek, or a lower-ranked player who qualified. Instead, she faces 20-year-old Jodie Joint, a match that looks eminently winnable for Williams. Joint lost in the first round on her Wimbledon main-draw debut last year and has won just one of her past 14 matches.

Williams is used to being the center of attention, and it will be no different on Tuesday when she likely plays on Centre Court. If she advances, she could face 29th seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines next, with a potential third-round meeting against top seed Iga Swiatek.