Serena Williams Loses Wimbledon Return Match

Serena Williams made her long-awaited return to professional singles tennis at Wimbledon, but fell short in a three-set match against 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint. The 44-year-old Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, lost with a score of 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 on Centre Court.

Williams displayed the powerful serve and groundstrokes that led her to seven Wimbledon singles titles. However, Joint was able to handle Williams' pace and win more of the big points by hitting beyond Williams’ reach. The match lasted for 2 hours and 22 minutes, as reported by multiple outlets.

This was Williams' first singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open. She has not played a singles match in nearly four years, although she did play doubles matches just before Wimbledon to announce her comeback. Joint, ranked 87th in the world, won her first Wimbledon match in just her second appearance at the All England Club.

Williams was given wild card invitations by Wimbledon organizers to play both singles and doubles with her older sister Venus. Her doubles match was scheduled for later this week but she has since withdrawn due to a knee injury sustained during her singles match. Williams' two daughters, Olympia and Adira, were present during the match, marking the first time that her youngest daughter saw her play singles.

Despite the loss, Williams received a standing ovation as she walked on court before the match started under a closed roof. Several supporters held up signs with messages like “Welcome Back,” and one wore a T-shirt with the text “Unstoppable Queen.” According to AP News, Williams tweaked her right knee toward the end of the first set but said she still hopes to play doubles with sister Venus later in the week.

Williams executed several notable plays during the match, including a delicate topspin lob winner early on and cranking out serves faster than 120 mph. She also saved four break points to hold for 6-5 in the second set and saved a match point in the tiebreaker with a big serve down the T followed by a forehand approach winner.

In her statement, Williams said, “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.”

Meanwhile, Britain's Arthur Fery has reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time after beating Belgium's Zizou Bergs. Fery, a wild-card entry, won their marathon round three clash 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6, 7-6, after more than four and a half hours.

The British number three defied persistent nosebleeds to triumph in the five-set rollercoaster on court 18, which will take him into the top 100 of the world rankings for the first time. Fery fought back from being 4-1 down in both the fourth and fifth sets before claiming victory.