Serena Williams returns to competitive singles at Wimbledon 2026
The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 26, 2026, 4:00 AM
Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Serena Williams has accepted the final singles wildcard for Wimbledon 2026, marking her return to competitive tennis after a four-year retirement. The 44-year-old, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, has only competed in doubles since her retirement. Her participation heightens interest as she seeks to add to her storied career at a familiar venue. This development raises questions about her readiness to compete at the highest level.
- •Williams returns to singles competition at Wimbledon after four years away.
- •She won the last available singles wildcard for the tournament.
- •Despite retirement, Williams remains a key figure at Wimbledon.
- •Questions remain about her fitness and readiness for elite competition.
- 4:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — Wimbledon’s big talking points: Serena’s return, Sinner’s recovery and Sabalenko’s slump
"All-time greats have questions to answer in SW19 while Raducanu and Draper have to show they can stay fit Serena Williams left it until the last minute to take the final available singles wildcard at Wimbledon and dramatically escalate her comeback from retirement. It is hard to imagine this was all part of her master plan. If she knew she was ready to compete against the best in the world from the beginning of the grass court season, Williams would have surely tested the waters at Queen’s Club or in Berlin, rather than playing doubles. But here she is, unable to resist the pull of Wimbledon, where she has won seven times in singles. Williams’s career has been filled with so many magical moments and at 44 years old, after four years of retirement, she is back at SW19 attempting to create a few more magical moments. Continue reading...
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