London: Serena Williams draws Joint in Wimbledon return
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Serena Williams will face Australia’s Maya Joint in the first round of Wimbledon after receiving a wildcard for her return to the tournament, organisers confirmed on Friday in London. The 44-year-old American, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion with 23 Grand Slam titles overall, is contesting her first competitive singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open. Joint, ranked 53rd and a two-time WTA title winner, including a grass-court victory at Eastbourne, poses an early test on Tuesday. In other draws, women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka meets Teodora Kostovic, defending champion Iga Swiatek faces Taylor Townsend, and men’s champion Jannik Sinner opens against Miomir Kecmanovic.
More context
Timeline
- 2022 Williams plays last competitive singles match
- 2022 After US Open, signals tennis departure
- Last year Joint wins Eastbourne grass title
- Friday Wimbledon singles draws officially announced
- Monday Sinner opens Centre Court against Kecmanovic
- Tuesday Williams faces Joint in first round
- This fortnight Sabalenka, Swiatek, Rybakina pursue titles
- This tournament Djokovic targets 25th Grand Slam
Why it matters
Serena Williams' return to Wimbledon is a testament to perseverance, even at 44. It's a reminder that age is just a number when it comes to chasing your passions. If you're a tennis fan, Tuesday's match against Joint is a must-watch.
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