Serena Williams is set to return to singles competition at Wimbledon on Tuesday, playing her first match since the 2022 U.S. Open. The 44-year-old, who has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, will face Maya Joint, a 20-year-old Australian ranked No. 53.
Williams, who also plans to compete in doubles at the tournament with her sister Venus, will be making a highly anticipated comeback. Joint, a native of Michigan, expressed her excitement about the opportunity, calling it "crazy" to imagine playing Williams in her first-round Wimbledon match.
"It’s an honor. I always dreamed about playing Serena Williams," Joint said. "If you told me 10 years ago that I’d be playing her first round at Wimbledon, that’s just crazy."
The tournament begins Monday with matches featuring players such as Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff, but Williams' singles return is being highlighted as a main event.
Williams' absence from the sport has seen her legendary status continue to grow, leaving anticipation high for how her return to the court will unfold.