Tennis icon Serena Williams is officially returning to the singles draw at Wimbledon after securing a stunning wild card entry for the 2026 tournament.
On Sunday, the All England Club confirmed that the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion will return to the version of the sport she spent decades dominating.
The announcement marks a massive milestone for the 44-year-old, whose last professional singles match took place nearly four years ago at the 2022 U.S. Open.
Williams had previously hinted at a potential return to the grass courts after kicking off her competitive tennis comeback in the doubles draw, where she is already locked in to compete alongside her sister, Venus Williams.
The 44-year-old began her comeback to tennis – four years after her last professional match – at the Queen’s Club’s HSBC Championships, where she won a round before being forced out by an injury to her partner Victoria Mboko.
Prior to making her comeback at the start of the month, Williams insisted that she ‘doesn’t have anything to prove’ in the upcoming chapter of her storied career.
Serena Williams is returning to the singles draw at Wimbledon after securing a wild card entry
The announcement marks a massive milestone for the 44-year-old, whose last professional singles match took place nearly four years ago at the 2022 U.S. Open
‘I don’t need to win,’ she said. ‘I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives, so for me it’s not important to me, and it’s important that I keep reminding myself of that, because I don’t have anything to prove, I don’t have anything to lose, and everything here is just a game.’
Citing her desire for her children to see her play, and suggesting that the timing of their school holidays was a factor in her return at the start of the grass season, Williams spoke of missing the atmosphere of the tour, and wanting to have a ‘different experience’ of its buzz with her family along for the ride.
‘This whole journey, I’m putting no pressure on myself,’ she continued. ‘I’ve had enough pressure.
‘(Being) an athlete is the best thing you can be, in the highest place, and having an opportunity to still be able to possibly do that one last time is cool and exciting.
‘I feel like I probably need to train a little bit more if I want to play singles, and we’ll see if I get there, and if not, that’s not my journey right now.’
Williams was speaking ahead of her comeback game at Queen’s, which she and Mboko won 7-6, 6-2 against No3 seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe.
‘I had so much fun,’ said Serena on court after the victory. ‘Vicky was really able to hold up the team on the big points. It felt so natural playing with her.’
Williams made her return to tennis and dominated at the Queen’s Club at the start of the month
Williams was congratulated by her husband Alexis and children, Olympia and Adira
Why did she come back? ‘I had nothing better to do – my kids are out of school for the summer so why not!’
Mboko, just 19 and playing with her idol, added: ‘It’s such a privilege to play beside you.’
Williams was watched by her proud family – husband Alexis and children, Olympia and Adira.
After the All England Club’s 20 per cent bump in prize money, all recipients of singles wildcards this year will receive a minimum of $106,000 (£80,000) – a major windfall for lower-ranked players.
