Joint ends Serena Williams’ Wimbledon singles comeback on dramatic day two

Maya Joint brought Serena Williams’ Wimbledon singles comeback to an end on Tuesday night, beating the seven-time champion 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 in a first-round match that became the defining story of day two at the All England Club.

Williams, 44, was playing her first singles match in nearly four years and had been handed a wild card for her return to Centre Court. She forced a deciding set after saving match point in the second-set tie-break, but 20-year-old Joint recovered from an early break down in the third to close out the biggest win of her career.

The result sends Joint into a second-round meeting with Alexandra Eala and leaves Williams to continue her Wimbledon fortnight in doubles alongside Venus Williams. It was a competitive return rather than a fairytale one, with Williams showing flashes of her familiar serve and fight but ultimately being outlasted by a younger opponent who stayed composed at the sharp end of the match.

Elsewhere in the women’s draw, defending champion Iga Swiatek avoided an early exit by beating Taylor Townsend 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. Swiatek was pushed hard after a one-sided opening set but steadied herself in the decider to set up a second-round match against Karolina Pliskova.

Elena Rybakina also had to work through a three-set opener, defeating Lois Boisson 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys and Jasmine Paolini were among the other seeded players to advance, while eighth seed Elina Svitolina was beaten by Daria Snigur and Katie Boulter went out to Tyra Caterina Grant.

The opening round continues to underline how quickly grass-court momentum can shift. For Williams, the headline was the return itself; for Joint, it was a statement win on one of the sport’s biggest stages.