Serena Williams is set to make her singles return to Wimbledon, nearly four years after her last singles match at the tournament. The 44-year-old American legend will face world No. 53 Maya Joint of Australia in her opening match. This marks Williams' first competitive singles action since returning to the court earlier this month with two doubles matches at Queen's Club.
Should Williams advance, a potential third-round encounter with defending champion Iga Swiatek looms. Williams has not competed in a singles Grand Slam event since Wimbledon in 2022.
British Contingent's Hurdles
The draw presents a challenging path for several British players. Emma Raducanu, seeded 30th, is scheduled to play Antonia Ruzic, ranked 60th in the world. This encounter holds significance as Raducanu was previously defeated by the Croatian player, a lucky loser, at the Dubai Open earlier this year. A potential third-round opponent for Raducanu is world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, whom she faced in a close match last year at Wimbledon.
Raducanu's recent form has been impacted by a niggle sustained during the final at Queen's Club, raising concerns about her fitness. Reports have indicated she was seen wearing an orthopedic boot and missed a scheduled practice session.
Jack Draper, a former British No. 1, is slated to play sixth seed Taylor Fritz in his opening round. This is only Draper's second tournament since April, and he has expressed confidence in his physical condition despite an injury-plagued year. Draper has historically struggled at Wimbledon, never progressing beyond the second round.
Other British men facing seeded opponents include Felix Gill against 23rd seed Rafael Jodar, Toby Samuel versus French Open semi-finalist Jakub Mensik, and Oliver Tarvet, a qualifier, who will play 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech. Billy Harris also faces a tough test against 19th seed Karen Khachanov.
On the women's side, teenager Mika Stojsavljevic is the only British woman in the main draw set to face a seeded player in the first round, meeting 11th seed Belinda Bencic.
Other Notable Drawlines
Defending men's champion Jannik Sinner will begin his campaign against Miomir Kecmanovic. A potential semi-final opponent for Sinner is Novak Djokovic, who is seeking his 25th Grand Slam title. Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals, is absent from the draw as he recovers from a wrist injury.
Last year's women's champion, Iga Swiatek, is drawn to play Taylor Townsend in her first-round match. Aryna Sabalenka will face first-time qualifier Teodora Kostovic.