Serena Williams fought hard but ultimately lost in her first singles match since 2022 on Tuesday at Wimbledon, falling to 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3, in the first round on Centre Court.There's a common axiom in sports that "Father Time is undefeated" and that rang true in London on Tuesday night.Williams, 44, had not played a singles match since the 2022 U.S.Open, when she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round in what many believed would be the final match of her legendary career.Instead, nearly four years later, she walked back onto the grass at the All England Club.Serena Williams lost to 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint in the first round at Wimbledon in her first singles match since the 2022 U.S.
Open.(Robert Prange/Getty Images)And not just any court.Centre Court.CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEThe same court where Williams won seven of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles, an Olympic gold medal and authored some of the most dominant moments of the modern women's tennis era.This one, obviously, was different.Williams entered Wimbledon as a wild card and with far more questions than expectations.How much tennis did she still have in her legs?Could her serve still carry her through pressure games?Could one of the greatest competitors in sports history summon enough of the old Serena to make this more than a ceremonial comeback?For a while, the answer looked complicated.Joint, the 87th-ranked women's player in the world, came out sharp and took the opening set 6-3.
After the set got to 3-3, with each player holding each of her first three serves, Joint won the next three games, breaking Serena once to take the first set.It was a reminder that nostalgia does not win tennis matches, especially at Wimbledon, where the grass can punish even small dips in movement and timing.Serena Williams reacts during her match against Maya Joint during their ladies' singles first-round match of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at the All En...