Valiant Serena beaten on Wimbledon return, Swiatek survives scare | Tennis
Serena Williams Exits Wimbledon Early, Iga Swiatek Advances
Published: June 30, 2026
Serena Williams faced a surprising first-round defeat in her return to singles tennis at Wimbledon, falling to Australian Maya Joint in a closely contested match on Centre Court. The score was 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, marking Williams’ first singles match since stepping away from the sport in 2022.
Williams, 44, displayed moments of her past brilliance, even saving a match point in the second set after breaking Joint’s serve. However, she ultimately could not sustain her momentum, resulting in a third consecutive first-round exit at the All England Club.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night; I was up until 2:00 a.m. just thinking about it,” said the 20-year-old Joint, who had entered the match having lost 13 of her last 14 matches.
Despite the loss, Williams was met with a warm reception from the crowd, highlighting her enduring presence in the sport. Supporters cheered enthusiastically when she took the court and celebrated her second-set victory. Williams last won a Wimbledon title a decade ago and claimed her final Grand Slam at the 2017 Australian Open.
As she shifts her focus, Williams will look to improve her chances in the women’s doubles alongside her sister, Venus Williams.
In other matches, reigning champion Iga Swiatek successfully began her title defense, overcoming Taylor Townsend in three sets—6-1, 2-6, 6-3. Swiatek, ranked third, managed to bounce back despite struggling with 16 unforced errors in the second set. She is set to face former world number one Karolina Pliskova in the second round.
Second seed Elena Rybakina also advanced, defeating French Open semi-finalist Lois Boisson in a challenging matchup.
In men’s singles, French Open champion Alexander Zverev triumphed over Belgian Alexander Blockx in a four-set battle, while fourth seed Ben Shelton suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Finland’s Otto Virtanen. Shelton had a match point but ultimately lost in a fifth-set tiebreak, 11-9.
American sixth seed Taylor Fritz and fifth seed Alex de Minaur both progressed in straight sets, continuing their pursuit of the championship.
The tournament continues as competitors vie for the prestigious title, with expectations high for upcoming matches.