Serena Williams lost to Maya Joint, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, in the first round of Wimbledon.
Playing her first singles match since the 2022 US Open, Williams fought hard on Centre Court, but eventually fell to defeat in three sets against a woman 24 years her junior.
What did you make of Serena Williams’ level on her return to singles?
Serena Williams is OUT of the Wimbledon singles event…
The talented young Aussie proved too strong for the veteran, securing her place in the second round of Wimbledon, where she will meet Alexandra Eala.
Williams failed to win on her return to singles action, but impressed many, including former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash.
Pat Cash claims Serena Williams would beat ‘75% of the tour’ playing how she did against Maya Joint
During BBC Radio 5 Live’s Wimbledon coverage, Cash shared his immediate reaction to Williams’ three-set defeat.
“It wasn’t quite enough, probably a little bit of emotional, physical fatigue came into that last set, which is no surprise whatsoever,” he said.
“But the standard of the tennis was absolutely phenomenal from both players.
“But for me, more surprised with Serena [Williams]; she played better now than she did at the end four years ago, without a doubt!
“It’s probably the best standard of match we’ve seen so far in the tournament.”
Serena Williams vs Maya Joint – Match stats
| Stats | Serena Williams | Maya Joint |
| Aces | 7 | 10 |
| Double faults | 7 | 5 |
| 1st Serve % | 76% | 81% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 63% | 66% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 53% | 53% |
| Break points | 3/11 | 5/11 |
Former British number one Annabel Croft was equally as impressed by Williams on her return to tennis.
“I really was [surprised],” she said.
“I was expecting a lot more rustiness, a lot more unforced errors, maybe a lack of movement into the corners, but it was anything but; it was quite the opposite.
“It was quite the opposite; it was probably one of the highest levels, if not the highest level in the women’s game that I’ve witnessed during the course of Wimbledon 2026.
“Spectacular ball striking from both.
“I think she would have beaten quite a number of players in the draw.
“I think she was a little unlucky to come up against such a bright talent in Maya Joint, who lived up to it, and almost outplayed her from the back of the court, and was so mentally strong, psychologically, was matching Serena Williams out there.”
Cash went one step further than Croft, making a surprising claim about the number of players Williams could beat on tour.
“I was a bit cynical and very curious about what was going to happen in this match. People sort of thought Serena was just coming back to say hello. Maya Joint, this is a great draw. She hasn’t won a match in 11 tournaments, she’s faltering, she’s going to be nervous. What was going to happen?” he said.
Maya Joint’s last 12 matches (WTA Tour)
- Adelaide International QF [LOSS] vs Mirra Andreeva, 2-6, 0-6
- Australian Open 1R [LOSS] vs Tereza Valentova, 4-6, 4-6
- Abu Dhabi Open 1R [LOSS] vs 6-7, 6-3, 3-6
- Qatar Open 1R [LOSS] vs Linda Noskova, 4-6, 0-6
- Dubai Tennis Championships 1R [LOSS] vs Diana Shnaider, 4-6, 1-6
- Indian Wells 1R [LOSS] vs Jaqueline Cristian, 6-0, 2-6, 5-7
- Italian Open 1R [LOSS] vs Viktorija Golubic, 5-7, 2-6
- Internationaux de Strasbourg 1R [LOSS] vs Ann Li, 1-6, 2-6
- French Open 1R [LOSS] vs Anastasia Potapova, 1-6, 2-6
- Nottingham Open 1R [LOSS] vs Yuliia Starodubtseva, 7-6, 5-7, 4-6
- Eastbourne Open 1R [LOSS] vs Emiliana Arango, 6-7, 4-6
- Wimbledon 1R [WIN] vs Serena Williams, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3
“What we did see is two players playing very good tennis.
“Maya Joint being able to handle the pace of Serena, not just the odd shot, it was constant.
“Serena played an incredible level of tennis. I was very cynical, just because we’ve seen Venus [Williams] make these comebacks over the last couple of years, and she’s barely won a match, and I thought don’t tell me Serena is going to come out and play this poor standard of tennis. I was sort of cringing, hoping that wasn’t going to be the case.
“It absolutely wasn’t. Serena played very good tennis.
“She would have beaten 75% of the tour, the way she played today, even more!
“But Joint was equal to it, and I didn’t think she would be.
“It was incredibly high-standard tennis.
“Wow. If Serena plays this way, and she wants to play some more tennis, I tell you what, she is going to be a real handful.”
Cash and Croft believe Williams has what it takes to compete on tour, but are they going slightly overboard?
The reality of Serena Williams’ singles comeback
It’s easy to get carried away, although it’s important to remain grounded.
Williams played well at times against Joint, but she was taking on a player who hadn’t won a match since January.
While Joint may have top-10 potential, she isn’t an elite player right now, and if Williams was going to come back and start winning matches and challenging for titles, this was about as easy a draw as she could have asked for.
To watch her lose and then suggest she would beat 75% of the players on tour is bordering on outrageous.
But this is Williams we are talking about, and you should never count out the G.O.A.T.
Perhaps she will start to climb the rankings… Only time will tell.
