Australian Maya Joint has beaten Serena Williams 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 at Wimbledon in the 44-year-old, seven-time champion’s wildcard return to singles tennis after four years.
Joint, playing her first match on centre court and just her second in the main draw at the grass-court slam, was clearly nervous at times, but still managed to serve the match out after a jittery deciding set by both players.
While packing up her bags after the match, Joint took multiple deep breaths, clearly trying to compose herself, but was still lost for words.
“I really don’t know what to say just now,” she said.
“Wow, I don’t really know what just happened, to be honest.”
Maya Joint was playing just the second main draw match at Wimbledon in her career. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
The 20-year-old said after the match she was so nervous she did not remember the start, two hours and 22 minutes earlier.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night. I was up until 2am just thinking about it,” she said.
“I forgot the warm-up, I don’t know what happened. My legs weren’t moving, I don’t know how I got a pretty good start in the match.
“She has such an aura, she’s such a legend and this court has so many huge names that have played on it. I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid, so this is pretty crazy.”
Williams was clearly far from her dominant best, but still found important shots when she needed them.
Serena Williams has returned to play tennis at Wimbledon, in her first singles match in almost four years. (AP: Maja Smiejkowska)
She was broken twice in the second set and was down a match point in the tie break, but clutch serving quickly ripped Joint’s chance away as the American champion pushed the match into a decider.
In those moments, Joint said she felt the 23-time major winner rise to another level with the crowd behind her.
“The start was very nerve-racking, and then trying to finish out the match as well she definitely lifted her level and played some really great tennis there,” Joint said.
Williams and sister Venus, who was in the crowd, have been given a wildcard into the doubles, which they won six times since from 2000 to 2016.
Williams farewelled the fans, who may get a chance to see her in the doubles. (Getty Images: Shaun Brooks/CameraSport)
It was an even more remarkable result for Joint, considering the season she has had.
The US-born Australian started the season ranked 32nd, good enough for a seed at her home grand slam after a breakout 2025, including her maiden title at the pre-Wimbledon Eastbourne event.
But this year has been rough for Joint, who has won just two matches off her own racquet before Wimbledon.
Since the Adelaide International in January, where she beat Sofia Kenin and watched as compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic succumbed to injury in the second round, Joint had won just one of her past 14 matches before taking down a legend.
In the second round Joint will meet Philippines’s Alex Eala, who she beat to claim the Eastbourne crown last year.
Joint was joined in the second round by fellow Australian Kim Birrell who beat Alina Korneva 6-3, 0-6, 6-2, while Tomljanovic was beaten by world number 545 Mariam Bolkvadze, and Talia Gibson lost to 21st seed Marie Bouzková of Czechia.
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