Serena Williams will begin her Wimbledon 2026 singles campaign against Maya Joint of Australia on Tuesday, but her route could become far more difficult if she clears the opening round.
The tennis legend, who “came out of retirement” to feature in the tournament after receiving the final wildcard entry, will also compete in the doubles event alongside her sister, Venus Williams.
Sports fans and fellow players continue to express doubt over her ability to maintain her high standard after spending four years away from singles competition.
Serena Williams Draws Maya Joint In Wimbledon Opener
Serena Williams’ quest for an eighth Wimbledon singles title will begin against an opponent who is 24 years her junior.
According to ESPN, the All England Club held the draw for the prestigious tournament on Friday, pairing the tennis legend with 20-year-old Australian rising star Maya Joint.
The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion accepted a wildcard into the main draw, marking her first competitive singles match since her third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic at the 2022 US Open.
She has not played at the famous SW19 grounds since 2022, when she lost in the opening round to then-world No. 115 Harmony Tan.
At the time, Serena explained that she wouldn’t use the word “retiring,” instead saying she was “evolving” away from tennis to focus on her family and personal life. She welcomed her second daughter in 2023.
Maya Joint Relishes Serena Showdown
Joint, one of the WTA Tour’s brightest young stars, is currently ranked No. 53 in the world. She enjoyed a breakout 2025 season, winning her first two WTA singles titles, including an impressive run on the grass at the Eastbourne Open.
She represents Australia through her father but shares a unique connection with Serena, as both were born in Michigan.
Joint made her Wimbledon debut last year, losing in the first round to Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 6-2. Speaking about the upcoming match, she admitted it was a dream come true but said she remains focused.
“It’s an honor. I always dreamed about playing Serena Williams,” Joint said. “If you told me ten years ago that I’d be playing her first round at Wimbledon, that’s just crazy.
“I hope it’s on Centre Court, that would be pretty cool. You just have to play the ball. You can’t really think about who you are playing because I’ll just get too nervous. I’ll just take it one ball at a time,” she added.
Serena Williams’ Draw Gets Tough Beyond Round One
The road only gets tougher for Serena if she advances beyond the opening round. Should she defeat Joint, she is likely to face the 29th seed, Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, in the second round.
A victory there could set up a blockbuster third-round clash with defending champion and world No. 3 Iga Swiatek.
Serena will also reunite with her sister, Venus Williams, in the doubles competition, where the pair have won six Wimbledon titles together.
The sisters will open their doubles campaign against Colombia’s Camila Osorio and Argentina’s Solana Sierra.
Serena Williams’ Rivals Question Her Singles Chances
Serena has already competed twice this month since returning to the tour. At the HSBC Championships, she partnered with Victoria Mboko to defeat Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez 7-6(2), 6-2 in the opening round of the women’s doubles event.
A few days later at the Berlin Open, Routliffe teamed up with Giuliana Olmos to beat Serena and Karolina Muchova in straight sets.
Reflecting on Serena’s return, Routliffe praised the tennis icon but admitted she is not yet back to her best.
She also pointed to the difference between singles and doubles, saying Serena is better equipped to compete in doubles at this stage.
“I didn’t think she’d step on the court without being prepared. Obviously, she’s not at her peak. She’s not like what she used to be, but she’s still an incredible player, and the way that she strikes the ball is next level even now,” Routliffe explained.
Serena Says She Has Nothing Left To Prove
Following her decision to return to tennis, Serena explained that she isn’t putting any pressure on herself and simply wants to enjoy the experience.
When asked why she returned, she said, “Why not? In December, I definitely was not planning a comeback. And then I was just talking to a few people and just chatting about different possibilities and just having fun. Something a little bit different. And so, I just kept talking and talking, and then I was like, well, why not?”
“I am putting no pressure on myself,” Serena added. “I had enough pressure. For me, right now, it’s so many elements… It’s about my kids getting to see me play. Olympia is a little bit older; Adira is very young. But it’s also just moments like that.”
Asked whether she was aiming to win the tournament, Serena replied, “I don’t need to win. I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives. For me, that’s not important. And it’s important I keep reminding myself that I don’t have anything to prove, anything to lose.”