LONDON (AP) 鈥� Where else would she play?
Wimbledon has confirmed that Serena Williams’ first match at the grass-court Grand Slam since 2022 will take place on Centre Court on Tuesday evening.
The 44-year-old Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon champion , will face 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia.
The All England Club on Sunday announced the order of play for Day 2.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek opens play on Centre Court on Tuesday (1:30 p.m. local time), in keeping with tradition, against Taylor Townsend. That’s to be followed by Taylor Fritz vs. home favorite Jack Draper 鈥� in what is one of the most intriguing men’s first-round matchups. And then Williams-Joint.
Williams had been away from the sport since her farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open but she accepted a wild-card entry to play both singles and doubles 鈥� with her sister Venus, who is 46.
Williams鈥� most-recent appearance at Wimbledon was in 2022 when she to Harmony Tan, who was then-ranked 115th. The American great walked away from tennis 鈥� she described it as 鈥渆volving鈥� away 鈥� after to Ajla Tomljanovic at Flushing Meadows.
Michigan-born Joint slipped from No. 53 to No. 87 in the WTA rankings updated on Sunday.
___
AP tennis:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
