Serena Williams made her highly anticipated return to singles tennis after a four-year hiatus but faced defeat against Australia’s Maya Joint in a closely contested three-set match on Centre Court. The 44-year-old, who initially retired in 2022, had previously participated in doubles competitions at Queen’s Club and Berlin following her comeback in June. Williams is set to partner with her sister, Venus Williams, in the women’s doubles, where they will compete against Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra.

Despite her loss, there were no immediate concerns about injuries, but it was later revealed that Williams was dealing with a knee issue. Reports indicated she tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set, which led to her absence from the mandatory post-match press conference. Her agent, Jill Smoller, confirmed that Williams was excused from media duties by Wimbledon and WTA medical teams due to the injury. After the match, she left the venue without assistance, focusing on recovery ahead of her upcoming doubles match.

The Williams sisters received a wildcard entry into the tournament, boasting an impressive record of six Wimbledon doubles titles, the last won in 2016. In singles, Serena has not claimed a Grand Slam title since her victory at the 2017 Australian Open, while Venus last won a major singles trophy in 2008 at Wimbledon. Serena has shared that her drive to return to tennis stems from a desire to perform for her two young daughters, who were present to watch her match alongside her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and Venus in the players’ box.