Wimbledon 2026: Serena Williams to face Maya Joint in first round

By Rohan Gupta — 26 June 2026 — 4 min read

Serena Williams’ highly anticipated return

American tennis icon Serena Williams is set to make her singles comeback at Wimbledon, where she will face Australian Maya Joint in the first round. Williams, a seven-time women’s champion at the All England Club, received a wildcard entry to restart her singles career. This marks her first competitive singles match since the US Open in 2022.

The 44-year-old’s return has generated considerable interest, especially given her prolonged absence from competitive singles play. Joint, who is 20 years old, experienced a first-round exit in her Wimbledon main-draw debut last year. Her recent form includes winning only one of her last 14 matches.

Williams has been preparing for her return by playing doubles matches. She partnered with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club and later teamed up with Karolina Muchova in Berlin. At Wimbledon, she is scheduled to play alongside her older sister, Venus Williams, in the doubles event, a title they have won six times together.

The draw for Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, was a focal point during the women’s draw ceremony. As a wildcard, she could have been matched against top-ranked players such as Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek. Instead, her pairing with Joint is seen by some as a potentially favorable start to her comeback campaign.

If Williams advances past the first round, she could potentially face 29th seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. There is also a possibility of a third-round encounter with reigning women’s champion Iga Swiatek.

British players’ draw and other key matches

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

British number one Emma Raducanu, seeded 30th, is scheduled to begin her campaign against Antonia Ruzic of Croatia. However, there are concerns regarding Raducanu’s fitness after she did not practice due to a shin injury. Raducanu could potentially meet top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, a repeat of their encounter at Wimbledon last year.

Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic will start his bid for a 25th Grand Slam title against China’s Wu Yibing. World number one Jannik Sinner, who has not played since his second-round exit at the French Open in May, will begin his title defense against Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia. However, Carlos Alcaraz will not be participating as he continues to recover from a wrist injury.

Other notable first-round matches include Cameron Norrie, seeded 26th, against American qualifier Michael Zheng. Norrie could face Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the third round. Katie Boulter, Francesca Jones, and Jan Choinski have also secured their spots through their rankings. Twelve British players, six men and six women, have been granted wildcards for the tournament.

The Wimbledon tournament runs from June 29 to July 12 at the All England Club.

Tournament storylines and prize money

Beyond the individual matchups, several narratives are shaping the tournament. Novak Djokovic‘s pursuit of a standalone 25th Grand Slam title is a major talking point. The grass court surface is considered favorable for his playing style, potentially easing the physical demands on the 39-year-old.

The absence of Carlos Alcaraz due to a wrist injury has altered the men’s draw, potentially creating a more open field. This could pave the way for a new name in the men’s final, as Jannik Sinner becomes a strong favorite despite his recent French Open exit.

In the women’s singles, Iga Swiatek‘s title defense is under scrutiny due to her inconsistent form since her dominant run last year. Despite being the reigning champion, her recent performances, including an early exit at the French Open, suggest a challenging path ahead. Competitors like Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula are expected to provide stiff competition.

This year’s Wimbledon features a record prize pot of £64.2 million, an increase from last year. Singles champions are set to earn £3.6 million, marking the largest year-on-year increase in the tournament’s history. This rise in prize money comes amid ongoing discussions among players regarding the share of revenue from Grand Slam events compared to ATP and WTA tournaments.

The tournament begins on June 29.

Source: bbc.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter