Serena Williams Handed Favourable 1st-Round Draw In Wimbledon Comeback

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams has been given a promising path back into singles competition, drawing Australian world number 53 Maya Joint in the first round as she makes her highly anticipated return to the All England Club.

The 44-year-old American, who has not played competitive singles since the 2022 US Open, received a wildcard entry to restart her career at SW19.

She faces a 20-year-old opponent who lost in the first round on her Wimbledon main-draw debut last year and has won just one of her past 14 matches.

The 25-minute women’s draw ceremony at the All England Club was dominated by anticipation surrounding Williams’ placement.

As a wildcard, she could have been pitted against top seeds Aryna Sabalenka or reigning champion Iga Swiatek, or a qualifier outside the top 100. Instead, the draw delivered a match that appears eminently winnable for the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion.

If Williams advances past Joint—likely on Centre Court on Tuesday—she could face 29th seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in the second round, with a potential third-round meeting against Swiatek looming.

Williams has already begun her comeback with two doubles matches earlier this month and will partner with her sister Venus, 46, in the women’s doubles event—a tournament they have won six times together.

Elsewhere in the women’s draw, British number one Emma Raducanu, seeded 30th, faces Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic but fitness concerns persist after she missed Thursday’s practice due to a shin injury. Raducanu could meet top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, replicating their Wimbledon clash from last year.

In the men’s draw, Britain’s Jack Draper faces a daunting first-round test against American sixth seed Taylor Fritz. Draper, who has added Andy Murray to his coaching team, is returning from a series of injury problems and has reached the Eastbourne semi-finals in his first tournament since April.

Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic begins his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title against China’s Wu Yibing, while world number one Jannik Sinner—who has not played since his shock second-round exit at the French Open in May—starts against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic as he bids to defend his Wimbledon crown.

Notably absent is Carlos Alcaraz, who continues to recover from a wrist injury and will not compete at this year’s tournament. Reigning women’s champion Iga Swiatek will open her title defence against American Taylor Townsend.

All eyes, however, remain fixed on Williams, whose return to singles action after nearly three years away has generated the most significant buzz around this year’s championships.