Williams to face unseeded Joint in Wimbledon comeback, Fritz drawn against Draper

Updated
Serena in recent action in Berlin
Serena in recent action in BerlinREUTERS / Fabrizio Bensch

Serena Williams was on Friday drawn to play Australia's Maya Joint in the Wimbledon first round as the American legend returns to singles action after four years.

Williams retired in 2022 but the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made a sensational comeback by playing in the Queen's Club and Berlin Open doubles earlier in June.

The 44-year-old was given a wildcard entry in the Wimbledon singles - a tournament she has won seven times.

If Williams beats world number 53 Joint, who has won just one of her past 14 matches, the American could face 29th seed rising star Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in the second round.

Check out the full women's draw here!

A victory in the second round would raise the possibility of a potential blockbuster third round tie against reigning champion Iga Swiatek, who starts her title defence against American Taylor Townsend.

On the men's side of the draw, American sixth seed Taylor Fritz has been handed a tricky opener against Britain's Jack Draper, who is continuing his return from injury with the help of Andy Murray on his coaching team.

World number one Jannik Sinner faces Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic as he looks to successfully defend his Wimbledon title, while seven-time former champion Novak Djokovic starts against China's Wu Yibing.

Check out the entire men's draw here!

Williams, who has been practicing at Wimbledon for the past week, last played a singles match nearly four years ago at the US Open in what had appeared to be her farewell to the sport.

She said at the time she was "evolving away" from tennis.

But just prior to the Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen's this year, Williams announced her stunning return, a move motivated by a desire to play in front of her two young daughters.

She has not played at Wimbledon since losing to Harmony Tan in the first round in 2022.

Her last Grand Slam match was the US Open third round defeat against Ajla Tomljanovic that seemed to have brought the curtain down on her astonishing career.

It remains to be seen if Williams can cope with the physical demands of singles competition after so long away from the sport.

She looked solid in her two doubles matches at Queen's and Berlin, winning one in London with Victoria Mboko and losing her opening tie with Karolina Muchova in Germany.

But Williams has not won a Grand Slam crown since the 2017 Australian Open, with her last major final appearance ending in defeat at the 2019 US Open.

Williams is also playing in the doubles at Wimbledon with her sister Venus.

The pair have won the All England Club doubles six times together.

Chances are you’re about to lose.

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au