Inside Serena Williams' return to tennis
Key takeaways
- It had begun months earlier, but as the winter turned to spring and the tour made its way to Europe, the speculation gradually turned from a tantalizing-but-unlikely idea to what seemed like a foregone conclusion.
- Serena Williams -- the 23-time major champion and arguably the greatest woman to ever play the sport -- was coming back.
- Now, after playing doubles matches at the HSBC Championships and Berlin Open, Williams will compete in her first singles match in nearly four years Tuesday at Wimbledon, taking on No. 53-ranked Maya Joint.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Serena Williams will play singles at Wimbledon for the first time in four years. Robert Prange/Getty Images D'Arcy Maine Multiple Authors Jun 28, 2026, 07:48 PM ETEmail Print Open Extended Reactions BY THE TIME the clay-court season had started, almost everyone in tennis had heard the growing rumblings.
It had begun months earlier, but as the winter turned to spring and the tour made its way to Europe, the speculation gradually turned from a tantalizing-but-unlikely idea to what seemed like a foregone conclusion. On June 1, it became official.
Serena Williams -- the 23-time major champion and arguably the greatest woman to ever play the sport -- was coming back.