LONDON — Serena Williams’s return was the story of the day at Wimbledon on Tuesday. But she was unable to deliver a victory for the London crowd.
Williams, 44, took Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club on Tuesday for her first singles match since the 2022 US Open and was greeted by raucous cheers. However, the pro-Williams crowd could not carry her as she fell in three sets (6–3, 6–7, 6–3) to Maya Joint, a 20-year-old Australian.
After the loss, Williams did not participate in a post-match press conference. Instead, the event informed reporters of a statement from Williams:
“It was really great to be back at Wimbledon. I never expected to be here. The atmosphere was amazing. Walking out was amazing. I definitely relished it and missed it and enjoyed the moment more than anything.”
Williams’s return to competition began in doubles earlier this month at the HSBC Championships with Victoria Mboko. The duo won their opening-round match but withdrew after Mboko sustained an injury.
