Four years after what most assumed was her final goodbye to Wimbledon’s iconic Centre Court, tennis legend Serena Williams made a much-anticipated return to singles competition Tuesday, falling just short of a fairy-tale comeback in a nail-biting three-set clash against 20-year-old rising star Maya Joint.
The 44-year-old American icon, owner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles and a record seven Wimbledon singles crowns alongside six doubles trophies, walked out to a thunderous standing ovation from the packed Centre Court crowd 1,462 days after her last singles point at the All England Club. Many thought Williams had permanently stepped away from competitive singles when she announced her planned retirement nearly four years ago, but a wildcard entry gave her the chance to step back onto the grass courts she dominated for decades.
Her return to competitive tennis began earlier this month in doubles competition, with scattered glimpses of the power and tenacity that defined her legendary career. But questions lingered over whether the 44-year-old could match the pace and endurance of a far younger opponent in a full singles match, 12 years after she claimed her last Wimbledon singles title.
The opening set appeared to validate those questions. Rust from her long hiatus showed as Joint, a 20-year-old Australian born in the U.S., dominated baseline rallies with sharp down-the-line winners, taking the first set 6-3. But Williams’ iconic never-say-die mentality soon emerged. Her level climbed steadily through the second set, and twice fought back from a break deficit to force a deciding tiebreak.
When Joint earned a match point in the tiebreak, Williams delivered a blistering forehand winner followed by a 120mph serve to save the point, sending the crowd into a frenzy and forcing a decisive third set. The grueling battle took its physical toll, however, and Joint held firm to close out the match 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-3, securing the first Wimbledon main draw win of her young career.
For Joint, who entered the match on an 11-match losing streak at the WTA Tour level, the upset was a career-defining moment. After the match, the 20-year-old told on-court reporters she could barely process the win: “I didn’t get much sleep last night, I was up until 2am just thinking about it. Walking out, I forgot the warm-up, my legs weren’t moving. I really don’t know what to say right now. I don’t know what just happened.”
She added that beating the player she calls “the best of all time” was a childhood dream come true: “This court has had so many huge names that have played on it. She has so much aura, she is such a legend. I have been dreaming about this since I was a little kid, so this is pretty crazy.”
Williams offered a gracious congratulation to Joint at the net before soaking in a minutes-long standing ovation from the supportive Centre Court crowd. Instead of attending the mandatory post-match press conference, she released a statement reflecting on her emotional return: “It was really great to be back at Wimbledon. I never expected to be here. The atmosphere was amazing. Walking out was amazing. I definitely relished it and missed it and enjoyed the moment more than anything.”
Williams’ family was in attendance to support the legend, including her husband Alexis Ohanian, sister and longtime doubles partner Venus Williams, and her two daughters — 8-year-old Olympia and nearly 3-year-old Adira. Williams told reporters ahead of her comeback that playing in front of her daughters was her primary motivation for returning to the court. The Williams sisters are set to return to competition later this week for the women’s doubles draw, where they will face Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in the first round as the six-time Wimbledon doubles champions look to add another chapter to their historic partnership.