Wimbledon 2026 draw sees Serena Williams face Maya Joint in first round

By Arjun Nair / 26.06.2026

By Arjun Nair — 26 June 2026 — 3 min read

Serena Williams, a seven-time champion at the All England Club, is set to make her singles comeback at Wimbledon against Australian world number 53 Maya Joint in the first round. Williams, who received a wildcard entry, has not competed in singles since the US Open in 2022. Her return to singles action has generated considerable anticipation within the tennis community.

The American superstar, aged 44, will restart her singles career after a period away from competitive play. Her last singles title at Wimbledon was in 2016. Williams’ return was confirmed when she accepted the eighth and final singles wildcard from tournament organisers, a decision that has been widely discussed among current and former players.

Former world number one Andy Roddick commented on Williams’ decision to return at Wimbledon, noting her confidence. Similarly, fellow American Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport suggested that Williams would only return if she believed she could make an immediate impact. Davenport also highlighted the physical demands of playing on grass, describing it as a tough surface.

Williams’ comeback was foreshadowed by her rejoining the anti-doping pool last December. She has also been training with coach Rennae Stubbs. Her powerful serve was observed during a doubles match alongside Victoria Mboko at the Queen’s Club, demonstrating her baseline power.

The draw ceremony at the All England Club saw significant anticipation surrounding Williams’ placement. As a wildcard entry, she could have faced a top-ranked player like Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek. However, her match against 20-year-old Joint is considered by some to be winnable. Joint lost in the first round of her Wimbledon main-draw debut last year and has a recent record of winning only one of her past 14 matches.

If Williams advances past the first round, she could potentially face 29th seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. A possible third-round encounter with reigning women’s champion Iga Swiatek is also on the horizon. Swiatek will begin her title defence against American Taylor Townsend.

In other notable matchups, British number one Emma Raducanu, seeded 30th, is scheduled to play against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic. Concerns have been raised about Raducanu’s fitness after she did not practice due to a shin injury. Raducanu could potentially meet top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, a repeat of their encounter at Wimbledon last year.

In the men’s draw, Britain’s Jack Draper faces a challenging first-round match against American sixth seed Taylor Fritz. Draper is continuing his return from a series of injury problems and has reached the semi-finals at Eastbourne in his first tournament since April, with Andy Murray now part of his coaching team.

Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic will start his campaign for a record 25th Grand Slam title against China’s Wu Yibing. World number one Jannik Sinner, who has not played since his second-round exit at the French Open in May, will begin his title defence against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic. However, his close rival Carlos Alcaraz will not be participating in the tournament as he recovers from a wrist injury.

The women’s singles field also features other prominent players. World number one Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to win her first Wimbledon title. Poland’s Iga Swiatek aims to become the first player since Williams in 2016 to win consecutive Wimbledon titles. Russian 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who recently became the youngest French Open champion in 34 years, will also be competing.

Williams’ return is expected to significantly boost television ratings and social media engagement. She is accustomed to being a focal point, and her return on Tuesday, likely on Centre Court, will be no exception. Williams first appeared at Wimbledon in 1998, reaching the singles third round.

Source: bbc.com