TENNIS – American great Serena Williams will face Australian 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round of her eagerly awaited return to Wimbledon, a potentially tricky tie for the seven-time champion playing at the tournament for the first time since 2022.
Williams, 44, was handed a wildcard by organisers.
She last played a competitive singles match at the US Open in 2022, after which she said she was “evolving away from tennis”.
She will face 53rd-ranked Joint, who has won two WTA Tour titles including the grasscourt trophy at Eastbourne last year, on Tuesday.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, bidding for her first title at the All England Club, begins against Serbian qualifier Teodora Kostovic, while defending champion Iga Swiatek faces American Taylor Townsend.
Third seed Swiatek was drawn in the same half as second seed Elena Rybakina, who opens against Lois Boisson of France.
Men’s defending champion and top seed Jannik Sinner will face Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday.
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