Serena Williams closed her eyes and soaked in the roar of Centre Court on Tuesday evening, returning to Wimbledon singles competition for the first time in four years. The occasion was electric, but Australia's Maya Joint ultimately spoiled the homecoming with a gutsy 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 victory over the 44-year-old American.
Williams had not played a singles match at SW19 for 1,462 days, and the rust showed early. She managed just five winners and two aces in a nervy opening set, with her trademark heavy groundstrokes and booming serve both failing to fire consistently. Her coaching team has apparently been working on something as fundamental as her breathing under pressure, according to former British number one Laura Robson, who commented on the broadcast.
Joint handled the occasion impressively. She started sharply, wobbled briefly in the second set when Williams began to find her range, but regrouped after going a break down in the third to close out the match with confidence.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, admitted he had walked in skeptical. What he witnessed changed his perspective. He noted that Joint managed the pace exceptionally well and argued that Williams actually played at a higher level than she did during the final stretch of her original career. Cash suggested that if Williams continues, opponents will find her genuinely dangerous.
Williams chose not to face the press afterward, releasing a written statement instead. Given that she has always insisted she hates losing more than she loves winning, the defeat will sting. Still, there were undeniable flashes of her old brilliance, and those will fuel plenty of debate about what comes next.
TennisDraw users had been closely tracking Williams as a wildcard storyline heading into this year's draw.