LONDON — The buzz at Wimbledon was undeniable Tuesday as fans gathered in anticipation of one of the most talked-about returns in recent tennis history — Serena Williams stepping back onto Centre Court.
Williams, 44, has not competed in a professional singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open, when she indicated she was stepping away from the sport. Her surprise entry as a wildcard at the All England Club has captured the imagination of fans and fellow players heading into the tournament.
“Everyone is so excited to see Serena back. She’s the best player there’s ever been,” said Lorraine, a fan from Ireland. “Even when we were travelling here, we heard so many people talking about her.”
Fellow Irish fan Diarmuid said the return gave spectators a rare chance to witness a true sporting champion. “She’s done everything and obviously loves it so much she wants to come back and play,” he said. He also pushed back on critics questioning her return: “I’ve heard some stuff online and people being negative that she doesn’t deserve it. They’re saying she’s too old or whatever. But she’s one of the greatest players we’ve ever had so anybody, whoever gets to see her play here is very lucky.”
Williams first appeared at Wimbledon in 1998 and claimed the last of her seven singles titles there a decade ago. She is also scheduled to compete in doubles alongside her older sister Venus at this year’s championships.
Regardless of how Tuesday’s match unfolds against 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint — the third match of the day on the tournament’s grandest stage — Williams’ presence alone promises to be an unforgettable moment in sports.
Still, some fans expressed doubt about whether Williams can hold her own in singles competition after such a long absence, particularly given she has only played two competitive grasscourt doubles matches leading up to Wimbledon. In 2022, also as a wildcard, she fell in the first round to Harmony Tan. Her last singles victory at Wimbledon came in 2019, when she reached the final before losing to Simona Halep.
“Obviously a big risk I guess is her age,” said Daniel, from south London. “Doubles is a little bit safer for her but singles is going to be unknown. But she’s got such a powerful game as long as her movement is still fairly good, I think she can still hit a few players off the court.”
Bianca, a fan from Brazil, was less optimistic: “I don’t think she’ll do well. I mean there’s a lot of routine, there’s a lot of practice leading up to this. If it gets to a very long match, probably she will get tired more easily than before, but maybe she can do it though.”
Others were confident that the Williams name alone carries enough weight to make a difference. Claire, from the Midlands area of England, put it simply: “She’s one of the Williams girls isn’t she. She’s still got strength.”
For Joint, facing Williams in only her second main draw appearance at the All England Club is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. The American-born player spoke about the matchup on Friday.
“It’s an honour,” Joint said. “I always dreamed about playing Serena Williams, and if you’d told me 10 years ago that I’d be playing her first round at Wimbledon, that’s just crazy. I have so much respect for her, and she was one of my idols growing up. I’m really excited to have the opportunity to play against her.”
