Serena Williams, 44, made an emotional return to singles competition at Wimbledon on Tuesday, marking her first appearance in the tournament's singles draw in four years. Williams stepped onto Centre Court to face World No. 87 Maya Joint in the first round, with her family present to support her comeback.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, last competed in singles at Wimbledon in 2020. Her return to the All England Club follows her stepping away from the sport after the 2022 US Open. She was welcomed by a large ovation from the crowd, though she was seen wearing pink headphones to focus as she entered the court.
Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their two daughters, Olympia, 8, and Adira, 2, were in the player's box. Wimbledon typically has an age restriction of five years old for Centre Court attendance, but an exception was made for Adira. Williams' sister Venus, a fellow tennis star, and her husband, actor Andrea Preti, were also in attendance. Venus and Serena are scheduled to compete together in the doubles draw later in the week.
Williams' path back to professional tennis has included her participation in the doubles draw at the Queen's Club's HSBC Championships earlier in the month, where she won a round before an injury to her partner, Victoria Mboko, ended their participation. Her singles return at Wimbledon was confirmed when she was awarded one of the tournament's wildcard slots.
Details about Williams' preparation have included discussions about her use of GLP-1 injections, a subject she has publicly endorsed as a paid spokesperson for telehealth company Ro. Ohanian, her husband, sits on Ro's board and was an early investor. Williams has previously stated that losing weight after the birth of her children was a challenge she struggled to overcome, and it has been reported she has lost approximately 34 pounds (15kg) using the drug. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is monitoring GLP-1s, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, to detect potential misuse in sports, although they are not currently on the prohibited list.
Williams has also commented on anti-doping regulations, specifically the 'whereabouts' system for no-notice testing. She described the system as 'grueling' and 'unreasonable,' stating that the requirements made it difficult to balance her life as a mother, businesswoman, and traveler, and that it was a significant factor in her hesitation to return to competition.