Serena Williams’ first singles match in nearly four years ended in a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 defeat to Australia’s Maya Joint in the first round of Wimbledon on Tuesday. Playing under the closed Centre Court roof, the 44-year-old American saved a match point at 5-6 in the second-set tiebreak and broke early in the decider to lead 2-1, but the 20-year-old Joint, ranked 87th, recovered to win four consecutive games and closed out the victory after two hours and 22 minutes. Williams struck 26 winners to Joint’s 40, and both players committed 37 unforced errors, but the Australian’s superior movement and consistency in the final set proved decisive.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion had not contested a singles match since her third-round exit at the 2022 US Open, after which she said she was “evolving away” from tennis. She accepted a wild card into the draw and prepared with two doubles outings earlier this month. Her return drew a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd, with her husband Alexis Ohanian, daughters Olympia and Adira, and sister Venus watching from the players’ box. At 44, she became the second-oldest woman to play a Wimbledon singles match in the Open era, behind only Martina Navratilova, who reached the second round aged 47 in 2004.

British observers noted the ceremonial atmosphere, with the All England Club playing a highlight reel of Williams’ past triumphs before the match. In North America, the narrative centred on the age gap—Joint was born in 2006, by which time Williams had already won seven Grand Slam titles—and the physical limitations that surfaced in the third set. Across continental Europe and Latin America, the match was portrayed as a courageous but ultimately unsuccessful return by a former world No. 1; Italian and Argentine reports highlighted the emotional reception and Williams’ fighting spirit, while German and French outlets noted that the defeat did not overshadow her career achievements. In Asia and the Middle East, coverage focused on Joint’s composure and the end of Williams’ singles campaign.

Joint, who had lost 11 consecutive tour-level matches before Tuesday, advances to face 29th seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. Williams will remain in the tournament, partnering Venus in the women’s doubles, where the sisters have won six Wimbledon titles together. The American did not attend her post-match press conference but said in a written statement that the atmosphere was “fantastic” and that she had “enjoyed it more than ever.” Whether this appearance signals a broader return—the US Open begins in late August—remains an open question.