She’s back. Again. Serena Williams, now 44 and carrying the weight of a legendary but dormant career, is returning to the grass courts of SW19. The draw dropped Friday. Her first-round opponent? Australia’s Maya Joint. It’s a singles comeback four years in the making, or at least that’s how the official timeline feels after her 2022 “evolution” away from the sport.
Let’s be real. Tennis retirements are rarely permanent. Williams walked away in 2022, but the itch never really went away. Earlier this June, she dipped her toes back in the water, playing doubles at Queen’s Club and Berlin. Now, armed with a wildcard, the seven-time Wimbledon singles champion wants the real thing. Why? She wants her two young daughters to see her play. It’s a sweet sentiment, but the grass at Wimbledon doesn’t care about family reunions.
On paper, the first hurdle looks manageable. Joint is ranked 53rd in the world and has been on a miserable run, dropping 13 of her last 14 matches. If Williams shakes off the rust and gets past her, the road gets steep. Fast. Round two likely brings 29th seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. Survive that, and a brutal third-round clash with defending champion Iga Swiatek looms. Swiatek opens against Taylor Townsend, and she won’t be handing out any nostalgia passes.
Can a 44-year-old body handle the grueling demands of Grand Slam singles after years away? It’s the million-dollar question. Williams hasn’t played a singles match since her emotional third-round exit against Ajla Tomljanovic at the US Open. Her last Wimbledon singles appearance was a forgettable first-round flop against Harmony Tan in 2022. She looked decent in her recent doubles warm-ups—winning one with Victoria Mboko before losing alongside Karolina Muchova—but singles is a different beast entirely.
The history is undeniable, but the clock is ticking. Williams hasn’t hoisted a Grand Slam trophy since the 2017 Australian Open. Her last major final was a losing effort back in 2019. Still, she’s doubling down on the nostalgia. Along with her singles run, she’s teaming up with sister Venus for the doubles draw. They’ve won the title six times together. It’s a nice trip down memory lane, but the present day is waiting, and it won’t be polite.
