Serena Williams' Wimbledon encore stopped just short of storybook. Four years after what many assumed was her final match on Centre Court, the 44-year-old returned to a raucous ovation and pushed 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint to a deciding set before bowing out, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, the BBC reports. Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, hadn't played a point at the All England Club in 1,462 days but again leaned on her trademark grit, saving a match point to extend the contest.
Joint, ranked far below the American great and 24 years her junior, steadied herself in the third set to close out the first-round marathon. This was Williams' first singles match since the 2022 US Open, the AP reports. Her doubles match with sister Venus, also a first since the 2022 US Open, comes later this week. Tuesday's result leaves Williams still without a Wimbledon win since 2019 but underscores her enduring drawing power; Centre Court roared as she walked off.
Williams has a record 98 career singles wins at Wimbledon, per the AP, while this was a first for Joint. "I don't know what just happened, to be honest," she said after the win, per the BBC. Williams, she said, "has so much aura, she is such a legend. This court has had so many huge names that have played in it. I have been dreaming about this since I was a little kid so this is pretty crazy." She added: "I think the toughest part was just trying to come out on court and play a match against her. The start was nerve-wracking. Trying to finish out the match as well, I think she definitely lifted her level. She played some great tennis there."
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