Serena Williams walked onto Wimbledon's Centre Court, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and smiled at the ovation that greeted her – but 2 hours and 20 minutes later, she was walking off with a first-round defeat. The 44-year-old tennis legend had just lost 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 to Australia's Maya Joint in her first singles match in four years, a reminder that even the greatest cannot simply pick up where they left off.
Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam titles and is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, stepped away from tennis in 2022. She said she had nothing left to prove, but her decision to return – at 44, on grass, at the All England Club – was met with fascination and doubt. The match against Joint, a player 22 years her junior, was always going to be a test of whether Williams could still compete at the highest level.
“Serena Williams returned to tennis after four years but lost on Wimbledon's Centre Court.”
The answer was mixed. Williams started slowly, registering only five winners and two aces in the first set. Her famous serve, once the most feared weapon in women's tennis, was inconsistent. Former British number one Laura Robson noted on BBC TV that Williams' coaching team had been urging her to focus on her breathing, as she seemed desperate to win. "At times, especially in the first set, it looked like she wanted it so bad that she was almost forgetting to release into the shot," Robson said.
But there were flashes of brilliance. In the second set, Williams found her rhythm, saving match points and forcing a tie-break that she won 8-6. She hit serves over 120mph and moved Joint around the court with power and precision. Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Serena played an incredible level. If she wants to play this way and play some more tennis, she is going to be a real handful. Serena played better now than she did at the end [of her career] four years ago."
Ultimately, Joint regrouped in the third set, breaking Williams' serve to go 3-1 up and closing out the match. Williams did not give a press conference, instead releasing a statement. Her children and husband were seen in the crowd, smiling throughout – a reminder that Williams has long said her life beyond tennis is fulfilling.
Williams' return matters for UK readers because Wimbledon is the backdrop to one of tennis's greatest stories. British fans have watched her win seven singles titles at SW19, and her comeback – even in defeat – offers a chance to appreciate a champion testing herself again. It also raises questions: can she still challenge for titles? Will she play more tournaments? And what does this mean for the women's game?
Q: Why did Serena Williams return to tennis after four years away? Williams has not given a specific reason publicly, but she has consistently said she has nothing left to prove. Her return suggests she wanted to test herself again, even at 44, after stepping away in 2022.
Q: How did she perform in her first match back? She lost in three sets to Maya Joint, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3. After a shaky first set, she improved in the second, hitting serves over 120mph and forcing a tie-break. But she faded in the third set, unable to maintain her level.
Q: What do tennis experts say about her chances going forward? Pat Cash said she played better than at the end of her previous career and could be "a real handful" if she continues. Laura Robson highlighted her breathing difficulties under pressure, suggesting she needs to manage nerves better.
What happens next is uncertain. Williams has not announced further tournaments, but her competitive nature – she has often said she hates losing more than she loves winning – may push her to keep playing. The tennis world will watch closely to see if a 44-year-old legend can redefine what's possible.