06/30/26 09:44:00
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06/30 09:43 CDT 'Good to have the GOAT back': Serena Williams to make singles
return on Day 2 at Wimbledon
'Good to have the GOAT back': Serena Williams to make singles return on Day 2
at Wimbledon
By MATTIAS KARN
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) --- Serena Williams is set to return to Wimbledon's Centre Court on
Tuesday for her first singles match in nearly four years as she plays Maya
Joint in the first round of the Grand Slam tournament.
Defending women's champion Iga Swiatek opens play on the main court, but the
44-year-old Williams is certainly the main attraction on Day 2. She's going up
against an opponent less than half her age in the 20-year-old Joint, from
Australia.
After returning to play doubles at Queen's Club this month, Williams accepted
wild cards to play in both the singles and doubles tournament --- with her
older sister Venus --- at Wimbledon.
Her return has certainly created a buzz around the All England Club, which is
without some of its usual star power after two-time men's champion Carlos
Alcaraz and home favorite Emma Raducanu both withdrew with injuries.
Williams practiced for about 50 minutes a few hours before her match, with good
friend Caroline Wozniacki --- another former No. 1 --- looking on.
"I'm very excited, it's always good to have the GOAT back," Wozniacki said.
"She is fun to watch, not only as a friend but also as a tennis fan. Anytime
you can have her back and playing, I think it's exciting for the game."
After the opening day featured wins for No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna
Sabalenka, along with Novak Djokovic, this year's French Open winner Alexander
Zverev is also set to play on Centre Court on Tuesday.
Fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur and No. 6 Taylor Fritz were among the early winners
in the men's bracket. Fritz beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 on No. 1
Court, having originally been set to face Jack Draper on Centre Court before
the British player withdrew with an injury.
Women's No. 6 Amanda Anisimova also advanced, along with former Wimbledon
finalist Jasmine Paolini.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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