Wimbledon 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most emotionally charged editions in years, and the reason is unmistakable: Serena Williams, 44, is back at the All England Club, armed with a wild card and the kind of buzz that only she can generate.
The 23-time major champion last appeared in singles at the 2022 US Open, where she described herself as "evolving" away from the sport rather than retiring. Now, two children later and nearly four years on, she opens her singles campaign against 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint, ranked No. 53, an opponent born the same year Serena was already a Grand Slam champion.
Novak Djokovic, himself chasing a record 25th major title this fortnight, personally told Serena her comeback was "truly inspirational", words he described as coming straight from the heart. Coco Gauff went further, crediting both Williams sisters as the reason she ever picked up a racket, calling them the "biggest" influence on her career.
The sisters are also reuniting in the doubles draw, a decade after claiming the last of their six Wimbledon doubles titles together. Venus, who turned 46 last week and won five singles titles at SW19 between 2000 and 2008, said she "can't wait" to share the court with her sister again. Their first-round opponents are Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra.
If Serena advances past Joint in singles, a potential second-round meeting with 29th seed Alexandra Eala looms, with a third-round clash against defending champion Iga Swiatek possible shortly after.
With England still alive in the football World Cup and the British Grand Prix competing for eyeballs, Wimbledon needed a marquee story, and it has one. TennisDraw users have been flooding the bracket tool with bold Serena deep-run picks since the draw was confirmed.
