Serena Williams, aged 44, has been granted a wildcard entry into this year’s Wimbledon singles draw, marking her first appearance in a Grand Slam singles event since the 2022 US Open.
The seven‑time Wimbledon champion, who holds 23 Grand Slam singles titles, previously described her step back from professional tennis as “evolving away” rather than retiring, leaving the door open for a future return.
Williams also received a wildcard to team with her sister Venus in the women’s doubles, a partnership that has previously captured six Wimbledon doubles crowns.
In preparation for the tournament, she competed in recent doubles events at Queen’s Club and in Berlin, gaining valuable match practice ahead of her Wimbledon debut.
Her opening singles match is slated for Tuesday on Centre Court against Australian world No. 53 Maya Joint, with an anticipated start time of 4:20 p.m.
A victory would secure her first Wimbledon singles win since 2019, after first‑round defeats in both 2021 and 2022.
The doubles campaign begins on Thursday, where the Williams sisters will face Colombia’s Camila Osorio and Argentina’s Solana Sierra.
Early speculation about Serena’s return emerged after her name appeared in the sport’s drug‑testing pool, a rumor she initially dismissed before confirming participation in recent doubles tournaments.
Williams explained that her primary motivation is to allow her daughters, Olympia and Adira, to watch her compete, emphasizing personal enjoyment over external pressure.
She reiterated that adding further titles is not a driving factor, noting she has already amassed more major victories than most athletes in the sport’s history.
Williams’ career achievements include seven Australian Open, three French Open, seven Wimbledon, and six US Open singles titles, an Olympic gold medal, five year‑end championships, 319 weeks as world No. 1, and a Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.
