American superstar Serena Williams makes her much-anticipated singles return at Wimbledon against world number 53 Australian Maya Joint in the first round, Yankee Scores reports.
Seven-time women’s champion at the All-England Club, Williams has been given a wildcard to kickstart her singles career at 44 after not playing since the 2022 US Open.
Joint, 20, was beaten in the first round of her Wimbledon main draw debut last year and has won just one of her last 14 matches.
Emma Raducanu, seeded 30th, is set to meet Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic but there are question marks over her fitness after she missed practice on Thursday with a shin injury, per BBC Sport.
Raducanu could face top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round – as she did at Wimbledon last year.
British player Jack Draper faces a stern test in the first round against American sixth seed Taylor Fritz in the men’s draw.
Draper is on his way back from a catalogue of injury problems, with Andy Murray now in his coaching team, and has reached the Eastbourne semi-finals in his first tournament since April.
