Serena Williams loses first-round match at Wimbledon, boosts ESPN ratings
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 3, 2026, 12:28 AM
Last updated Jul 3, 2026
Serena Williams faced Maya Joint at Wimbledon on July 2, 2026, drawing an average of 1.8 million viewers, marking ESPN's largest first-round ratings ever for the tournament. Despite showcasing competitive moments, Williams lost in three sets. This match was her first singles appearance since 2022. Although slated to play doubles with her sister Venus, a knee injury from the singles match puts that participation in jeopardy. Joint, who defeated Williams, subsequently lost to No. 29 seed Alexandra Eala in the next round.
- •Williams averages 1.8 million viewers in her Wimbledon return
- •Match concludes with a loss to Maya Joint
- •Williams' first singles match since 2022
- •Knee injury puts doubles match with Venus in doubt
- •Joint loses to Alexandra Eala in the second round
- 5:44 PMYahoo Sports — Serena Singles Return Draws Record Wimbledon Ratings for ESPN
- 2:29 PMESPN — Serena's return sets Wimbledon ratings record
- 1:00 PMYahoo Sports — Serena Williams’ singles return sets ratings record for 1st-round Wimbledon match on ESPN
- 12:28 AMYahoo Sports — Serena Williams' first-round loss in Wimbledon return delivers record ratings for ESPN
"Serena Williams’ singles return at Wimbledon was watched by an average of 1.8 million viewers on ESPN, helping make it the network's biggest audience for a Day 2 at the grass-court Grand Slam. The match, which was the 44-year-old Williams’ first singles contest in nearly four years, had a peak of 2.1 million viewers despite being played on a Tuesday afternoon in the U.S, the network said Friday. Williams was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia but showed she could be competitive with an opponent less than half her age after being away for so long.
"Serena Williams' singles return at Wimbledon was watched by an average of 1.8 million viewers on ESPN, helping make it the network's biggest audience for a Day 2 at the grass-court Grand Slam.
"ESPN posted its largest first-round ratings ever at Wimbledon.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJul 3, 2026, 5:44 PMSerena Singles Return Draws Record Wimbledon Ratings for ESPN
Williams’s status for doubles remains in question.
- ESPNJul 3, 2026, 2:29 PMSerena's return sets Wimbledon ratings record
Serena Williams' singles return at Wimbledon was watched by an average of 1.8 million viewers on ESPN, helping make it the network's biggest audience for a Day 2 at the grass-court Grand Slam.
- Yahoo SportsJul 3, 2026, 1:00 PMSerena Williams’ singles return sets ratings record for 1st-round Wimbledon match on ESPN
Serena Williams’ singles return at Wimbledon was watched by an average of 1.8 million viewers on ESPN, helping make it the network's biggest audience for a Day 2 at the grass-court Grand Slam. The match, which was the 44-year-old Williams’ first singles contest in nearly four years, had a peak of 2.1 million viewers despite being played on a Tuesday afternoon in the U.S, the network said Friday. Williams was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia but showed she could be competitive with an opponent less than half her age after being away for so long.
- Yahoo SportsJul 3, 2026, 12:28 AMSerena Williams' first-round loss in Wimbledon return delivers record ratings for ESPN
ESPN posted its largest first-round ratings ever at Wimbledon.
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