Seven-time champion draws ovation in first Wimbledon singles since 2022Last updated: June 30, 2026 | 22:541 MIN READUS player Serena Williams warms up prior to playing Australia's Maya Joint during their women's singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 30, 2026.AFP Serena Williamson is back on Wimbledon's Centre Court for her first singles match in nearly four years.The 44-year-old Williams was given a standing ovation Tuesday as she walked onto the grass court where she won seven of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles."Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Several supporters held up signs with messages like "Welcome Back" and one wore a T-shirt with the text "Unstoppable Queen."Williams' two daughters, her husband Alexis Ohanian and sister Venus were all in attendance. After a brief warmup under the closed roof, she began her first-round match against Maya Joint by returning in the opening game.It is her first singles match since the 2022 US Open after opting to return to the sport she dominated for so long.She played doubles at Queen's Club in London and in Berlin in the lead-up to the grass-court Grand Slam tournament. Also In This PackageRelated Topics:Get Updates on Topics You ChooseUp Next