Serena Williams will play singles at Wimbledon in a stunning comeback at age 44. The 23-time Grand Slam champion is set to return to the All England Club for the tournament, marking her first singles appearance since 2023.
What happened?
Williams, 44, has entered the singles draw for Wimbledon. The news broke on 18 Jun, confirming her return to competitive tennis after a two-year hiatus from singles play. She last played singles at the 2023 US Open.
The All England Club confirmed her entry. Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, will compete in the main draw. She has not played a singles match on grass since 2023.
Why it matters for Serena Williams
This is a massive moment. Williams retired from professional tennis after the 2023 US Open, but she has hinted at a return. Now she's back on the biggest stage in tennis.
At 44, she will be the oldest woman in the singles draw. Her last Wimbledon singles title came in 2016. She has 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in the Open Era.
What comes next?
The draw will determine her first-round opponent. Williams will need a wild card or a protected ranking to enter. She currently has no ranking, having been inactive for so long.
Fans are buzzing. The tournament runs from 1 Jul to 14 Jul. Williams will be a huge draw, regardless of her form. Her return adds serious star power to the event.
How she got here
Williams has been training in Florida. She played doubles at Wimbledon in 2024 with Ons Jabeur, but lost in the first round. That match showed she still has the fire.
She has not confirmed a retirement reversal. But entering singles at Wimbledon is the clearest sign yet that she wants to compete again. Her coach, Eric Hechtman, has been working with her on grass-court drills.
Williams holds the record for most Wimbledon singles titles in the Open Era among women. She won her first in 2002 and her last in 2016. Her serve and power remain her biggest weapons.
The tennis world is watching. If she wins even one match, it will be a story. If she goes deep, it will be one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.