Wimbledon: Serena Williams loses three-set match to Maya Joint on singles return
Serena Williams’ singles return at Wimbledon
Serena Williams made her singles return at Wimbledon, facing Maya Joint in a three-set match. The American, who had not played a singles match in nearly four years, ultimately lost to Joint. This appearance marked Williams’ first singles match since her last competitive outing at the US Open in 2022.
Williams, at 44 years old, received a warm reception upon stepping onto the court. She demonstrated her competitive spirit by saving a match point and forcing a deciding set against Joint, who is 24 years her junior. Despite the crowd’s support, Australia’s Joint secured a 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 victory.
Joint expressed her disbelief after the match, stating in her on-court interview, “I really don’t know what to say right now. I don’t know what just happened.” She added that she had been up until 2 am thinking about the match and that her legs were not moving during the warm-up.
Match details and player reactions
The match saw Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, initially struggle with her movement in the opening set, particularly against Joint’s down-the-line winners. However, her performance improved as the match progressed, allowing her to battle back from being a break down twice in the second set to force a tie-break.
When faced with Joint’s first match point, Williams responded with a powerful forehand winner and a 120mph serve, extending the match to a third set. This effort, however, appeared to take its toll, and Williams was unable to maintain the pace set by the 20-year-old Joint in the final set.
Joint, who had experienced a series of losses on the WTA Tour, delivered what was described as her best performance of the season. She acknowledged Williams’ legendary status, saying, “She has so much aura, she is such a legend.” Joint also mentioned that dreaming of such a moment since childhood made the win “pretty crazy.”
Williams had previously made her competitive return in women’s doubles earlier this month, playing alongside Victoria Mboko at Queen’s and Karolina Muchova in Berlin. Her motivation for returning to the sport, as she stated before Queen’s, was the prospect of her daughters, Olympia and Adira, watching her play. Both daughters, along with her sister Venus and husband Alexis Ohanian, were present in her player’s box during the match.
Williams’ legacy and upcoming doubles match
Williams’ return to singles at Wimbledon placed her as the second-oldest player to compete in the women’s singles draw at the tournament in the Open Era. Her career includes seven singles titles and six women’s doubles titles at the All England Club.
The buzz surrounding Williams’ comeback has been significant, with many players and fans expressing their excitement. Aryna Sabalenka, for instance, commented on Williams’ inspiring presence, saying, “She’s fun, and she’s a legend.”
Williams is scheduled to return to action later this week, partnering with her sister Venus in the doubles competition. The pair, who have won six titles together at Wimbledon, are set to face Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in the first round.
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Source: bbc.co.uk