JUMP TO:
WIMBLEDON, LONDON — Serena Williams is back competing at a grand slam for the first time in nearly four years as the 44-year-old makes her return to singles tennis against Maya Joint in the opening round.
Having retired from tennis at the US Open in 2022, the 23-time grand slam champion begins her quest for an eighth Wimbledon title when she takes on the 20-year-old Australian.
Williams, who is also playing doubles with her sister Venus this tournament, enters as a wildcard having only recently returned to the professional tour with doubles appearances on grass earlier this month at Queen’s and in Berlin.
Joint, currently ranked 87th in the world rankings, described it as an “honor” to be drawn against Williams following the draw, but knows she needs something special to avoid a first-round exit for a second consecutive year.
Serena Williams vs. Maya Joint score
| Set | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serena Williams | — | — | — |
| Maya Joint | — | — | — |
Serena Williams vs. Maya Joint live updates, highlights from 2026 Wimbledon comeback
10 a.m. ET: Hello, and welcome to day two of Wimbledon and the start of Serena Williams’ campaign.
It’s not 1999 (her first Wimbledon appearance). It’s not 2022 (her last Wimbledon appearance). The year is 2026 and 44-year-old Serena Williams, a 23-time grand slam champion, a seven-time winner at SW19, is playing singles tennis once again.
She faces 20-year-old Maya Joint in her return and we cannot wait to see how this game unfolds. Let’s get going!
MORE SERENA WILLIAMS NEWS:
How to watch Serena Williams in Wimbledon return
Serena Williams’ first match is most likely to be shown on ESPN’s main channel given the magnitude of the event but that is subject to change.
ESPN is the home of Wimbledon broadcasting with daily coverage from all 18 courts on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes (Spanish) and streaming on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited plan subscribers.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the ESPN app.
The Tennis Channel will also be showing delayed coverage of select matches throughout the tournament. Along with ESPN channels, they can be found on streaming service fubo.
Fubo offers a FREE TRIAL for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
What time does Serena Williams play today?
- Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026
- Time: 11:30 a.m. ET | 8:30 a.m. PT (approx)
Serena Williams and Maya Joint have been scheduled as the third match on Centre Court on Tuesday, June 30.
The match has an estimated start time of 11:30 a.m. ET but this could be later depending on how many sets are played in the first two matches.
Read the full article here