Serena Williams returned to competitive singles action on Tuesday at Wimbledon amid huge fanfare. The 44-year-old 23-time Grand Slam winner made her first professional singles appearance in nearly four years, marking her return to the court since the 2022 U.S. Open.
Following her move away from tennis in 2022, Williams had been preparing tirelessly for this moment. To announce her comeback, she played two doubles matches shortly before the tournament began.
Playing on Centre Court, Williams faced 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia. While the American icon showed some sizzle and came close to a sensational comeback win in an epic three-setter, she was unable to dominate as she once did.
Joint ultimately defeated Williams with a score of 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3. The loss means Williams bows out in the opening round, unable to overcome the first hurdle of her return to Wimbledon.