US player Serena Williams waves as he leaves the court after being defeated by 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. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP) /
Serena Williams’ bid for a fairytale return to Wimbledon was shattered by Australia’s Maya Joint as the American legend’s first singles match in four years ended in a 6-3, 6-7 (6/8) 6-3 defeat on Tuesday.
Williams has captured the imagination of the sports world with her sensational comeback, but there was no storybook chapter to add to her astonishing career at the All England Club.
Serena was the second-oldest player to feature in the Wimbledon women’s singles in the Open era, after Martina Navratilova, who reached the second round at the age of 47 in 2004.
The 44-year-old, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, competed gamely but after so long away it was no surprise that she couldn’t quite roll back the years to subdue an inspired opponent on Centre Court. Related News Portable to face Charles Okocha in boxing rematch after Carter Efe defeat Canada, Paraguay, Morocco, Brazil book World Cup round of 16 spots World Cup: Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalties to reach last 16
