Serena Williams will compete in singles at Wimbledon for the first time in nearly four years after accepting a wild-card invitation from the All England Club. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, now 44, will also play doubles alongside her older sister Venus, 46, in what marks a historic reunion for the pair at the grass-court Grand Slam.
When does the draw take place?
The singles draw will be held Friday, with the tournament beginning Monday, June 29. Williams will learn her first-round opponent once the draw is announced, and because she carries no ranking, she could potentially face a highly ranked player in her opening match.
What is Williams' recent competitive history?
Williams returned to professional tennis in June 2026 after nearly four years away from the sport. According to Field Level Media, she began her comeback with a doubles victory at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club in London, partnering with Canadian Victoria Mboko. She subsequently competed in doubles at the Berlin Open, where she teamed with Czech player Karolina Muchova but lost in the first round to Erin Routliffe and Giuliana Olmos, 6-4, 6-4.
Why are the Williams sisters playing together?
According to Field Level Media, the idea to reunite in doubles originated with Serena's eight-year-old daughter, Olympia. "My daughter Olympia told me that I should play with Venus," Serena said after her Berlin match. "She's always right." The sisters have combined to win 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, including six at Wimbledon, with their last doubles appearance together at the All England Club occurring a decade ago.
What are Williams' achievements at Wimbledon?
Williams has won seven singles titles at Wimbledon, with her most recent coming in 2016. She also won the singles and doubles titles at the 2012 London Olympics, which were held at the All England Club. Her last Grand Slam singles appearance was at the US Open in 2022.
The tournament runs from June 29 to July 12 at the All England Club in London, with coverage available on ESPN and the ESPN App.
Sources
- WSLS: Wimbledon draw: Serena Williams to learn her first-round opponent in a comeback at age 44. Associated Press, 2026-06-26.
- Field Level Media: Williams sisters to play doubles at Wimbledon. Field Level Media, 2026-06-24.
- ESPN: Wimbledon 2026: Schedule, how to watch, more. ESPN, 2026-06-25.
- Sporting News: Serena Williams comeback: Will tennis icon play singles at Wimbledon?. Sporting News, 2026-06-22.
Reported from public sources.