Serena Williams' return ends in defeat to Maya Joint at Wimbledon
London, July 1
Serena Williams suffered a defeat to Maya Joint in her much-anticipated Wimbledon return after a four-year absence, following an epic Centre Court battle.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who recently announced her comeback at the age of 44, showed moments of brilliance against the 20-year-old Australian and saved a match point in the second set to force a decider.
However, she eventually ran out of steam, going down 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3.
"I really don't know what to say! I don't know what just happened, to be honest," Joint said in her on-court interview as per Sky Sports. I didn't get much sleep last night. I was up until like 2am just thinking about it. My legs weren't moving in the warm-up. I really don't know how I got a good start in the match.
"She has such an aura, she's such a legend. I've been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid, so this is pretty crazy. The start was so nerve-racking, and trying to finish out the match was hard as well," she added.
Meanwhile, after surviving a first-round rollercoaster on Centre Court to begin her Wimbledon title defence, third seed Iga Swiatek buried her head in her towel courtside for several minutes.
Her 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Taylor Townsend in a two-hour, two-minute battle proved both physically and emotionally demanding.
"It was a tough couple of weeks, not a season where everything went how I wanted. I don't think I won any three-set match this year, so I'm happy that I could do it here, because obviously it means a lot opening the court as defending champion," Swiatek explained in her on-court interview.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm a bit disappointed but not surprised. Serena's comeback was always going to be tough at this age. Still, she showed flashes of her old self and pushed a young talent to three sets. That second set tiebreak was pure drama! I hope she continues, tennis needs legends like her.
Respect to Maya Joint for handling the occasion so well. But honestly, I think Serena should have retired gracefully after her last US Open. These comebacks at 44 just tarnish her legacy a bit. She's still the GOAT, no doubt, but time waits for no one, even legends.
Omg, that match was everything! 😱 Serena saving match point in the second set, the crowd going wild, and then Maya staying calm to close it out. This is what Wimbledon is all about. And Iga Swiatek crying after her win shows how much pressure she's under. Brilliant tennis all around! 🏆
Maya Joint's story is incredible—barely sleeping, nerves in warm-up, then beating a legend on Centre Court. She reminds me of how our own Indian players sometimes rise to the occasion against big names. Serena's aura is real, but the new generation isn't afraid anymore. Great for the sport!
I'm happy for Maya Joint but also a little sad for Serena. She gave us so many memories, and seeing her lose to a qualifier is tough. Swiatek's emotional reaction shows how mentally draining this sport is. Both matches were nail-biters. Looking forward to more upsets this Wimbledon! 🎾✨