Serena Williams defeated Maya Joint 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of Wimbledon on June 29, 2026. The seven-time champion, playing singles at Wimbledon for the first time in nearly four years, won in straight sets in 64 minutes after entering the tournament via wildcard. The 44-year-old American now holds a 7-0 career record in opening-round matches at Wimbledon.
Joint, a 20-year-old Australian ranked outside the top 100, was making her main-draw debut at Wimbledon after qualifying for the tournament. The 64-minute match was the shortest of Williams's opening-round victories at the All England Club.
Williams's victory follows her return to singles competition earlier this year after a prolonged absence. She last played a singles match at Wimbledon in 2022, when she lost in the first round to Harmony Tan in three sets. The wildcard entry allowed her to bypass qualifying for the grass-court major.
The first-round result sets up a second-round matchup against either Katerina Siniakova or a qualifier to be determined. Williams has not won a Grand Slam singles title since 2017, but her 23 major titles remain the record for the Open Era.
The All England Club continues its fortnight of play through July 12, with Williams's next match scheduled in the coming days.
