Maya Joint defeats Serena Williams at Wimbledon

sportsJun 30, 202632590

At Wimbledon 2026, 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint defeated Serena Williams 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 in the first round. The match was Serena Williams’s first professional singles appearance in nearly four years; French coverage notes the 44-year-old was attempting a singles return. Joint recovered from a break down in the third set to reel off four straight games and close out the victory. The win sends Joint into the Wimbledon second round for the first time in her career. Serena is scheduled to play doubles with her sister Venus in a few days.

Tennis Updates

@tennisupdates.bsky.social

Maya Joint closes out Serena Williams 6-3, 6⁶-7⁸, 6-3 We weren't sure what to expect from Serena with not playing for 4 years but that was honestly a good match, she'll be playing doubles with Venus in a few days.

1016h ago

Sharon H1

Composure beyond her years. What a performance, Maya.

Quoting this

Greg Jericho27

Serena was lucky she was not drawn against a top 50, more experienced, player. Oh well, things you do to sell supplements…

The Athletic

@theathletic.com

Maya Joint holds on to beat Serena Williams in three sets at Wimbledon 2026. Joint is now into the second round of Wimbledon for the first time in her career.

906h ago

Grampa Jody4

What an honor it would be just to see her at Wimbledon. Nice try Serena. 👏

Steeler Yuta3

Maybe, I dunno, also post a photo of the woman who defeated the greatest of all time to advance in the tournament? The post is ABOUT Joint. But you’d rather show a sad Serena…

Bart Cunningham2

And a very ungracious handshake from Serena after, poor form.

Aidan McNelis2

Would you say Serena got smoked

Quoting this

bastylefilegirl4

I said “really if Serena just wins one set that is an accomplishment cuz that serve is still there” She get some more reps in maybe she’ll be back for the US Open in August Hope her and Venus do well in doubles

The Tennis Letter

@thetennisletter.bsky.social

Maya Joint after beating Serena Williams in her comeback singles match at Wimbledon: “She has such an aura. She’s such a legend. This court has so many huge names that have played on it. I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid. This is pretty crazy.” 🥹

746h ago

🇨🇦1

Congratulations Maya! Well deserved 👏

PBS News

@pbsnews.org

Tennis great Serena Williams played her first singles match in nearly four years on Tuesday, thrilling the crowd at Wimbledon but coming up short on the court. The 44-year-old lost in three sets to a player less than half her age, Australia's Maya Joint, who is just 20.

624h ago

The New York Times

@nytimes.com

From @theathletic.com: Serena Williams lost her first singles match in nearly four years, falling in three sets to Australia’s Maya Joint at Wimbledon. Despite her loss, Williams showed why she remains one of the greatest in the history of any sport.

586h ago

𝚖𝚘𝚔𝚞 𓅃5

wild card could have been given to an up-and-coming tennis player instead

Karolina Muchova Fan Club5

Can John McEnroe PLEASE retire along with every other boring-ass tennis boomer who is from the 1970s and still boring us during matches? This was an exciting match and McEnroe ruined it

Tony Splagoni2

This is actually about current player Maya Joint overcoming a retired player who just needed to know. Now she knows. Onward and upward Aussie. 🇦🇺

Ariesnake1

she's too old for this 💩

iamhere69.bsky.social1

Serena looked winded at one point...the 20 year old woman was ready to go. Lol

Ben Rothenberg

@benrothenberg.bsky.social

Serena Williams not doing press tonight at #Wimbledon , lol. The tournament sent a quote attributed to her.

256h ago

Quoting this

Soraya Nadia McDonald31

Aaaarrrggghhhhh I get it and also noooooooooooo 😩 She needs to do it! Not for the press. For herself!

Ashley3

I don't blame her. The press has always been awful to her. Win or lose.

BettyFastCat12

Good for her. Pay the fine and keep it moving. Dubs coming up.

Mark Taylor

@emarktaylor.bsky.social

🎾 #Tennis #Wimbledon Maya Joint fights back from a break down in the 3rd Set to defeat Serena Williams. She looks almost embarrassed - poor thing.

156h ago

ABC News Australia

@news.abc.net.au

Serena Williams beaten by Maya Joint at Wimbledon in tennis great's return to tennis

166h ago

Merlisa

@merlisa.com

Maya Joint wasn't born when Serena won her first Grand Slam. That tells you how amazing Serena is.

126h ago

BBC Sport {bot}

@bbcsportbot.bsky.social

⏩ Not to be for Serena Williams, but she got her wish. Her kids got to watch her play on Centre Court. ❤️❤️ She's been beaten in three sets by Maya Joint at Wimbledon.

127h ago

Jane Hill

@janehill.bsky.social

I love Serena, but I’m really pleased for Maya Joint and I hope she can live up to her promise. She plays Eala next, who I think was who she beat in the Eastbourne final last year.

136h ago

Sean Carroll2

I was delighted to see Maya hold her nerve, though felt a bit sorry for her having to go straight into the on-court interview. I loved watching Serena play again - there were flashes of brilliance - but by the end I was cheering on Maya.

Burn It All Down, the podcast

@burnitalldownpod.com

Serena returned to tennis today after a four-year absence and to Centre Court at Wimbledon, no less. She did not win her first-round match, but she took it to 3 sets and there was still lots to love about it all. @lindsaygibbs.bsky.social explains why she found Serena and the match inspiring.

91h ago

Ground Pass Podcast - A Tennis Podcast

@groundpass.bsky.social

Maya Joint wins her 1st round match against Serena Williams. With such impressive poise to handle the event. She is coming off an 11 match losing streak with all the pressure on her. Her mom is a legend! This was a really fun match, we will see Serena in doubles. #Wimbledon

126h ago

TSN

@tsnofficial.bsky.social

Serena Williams’ #Wimbledon comeback ends in the opening round. The 44-year-old made her first professional singles appearance since 2022, falling to Maya Joint.

106h ago

Cheryl Harris

@cdh111.bsky.social

Maya Joint has just decided to play the match of her life up to this point, hasn't she?

97h ago

Stewart Tan3

I was expecting this match to be one-sided: - Maya is overwhelmed by the occasion and gets smoked - Serena’s lack of match play will show Pleasantly surprised that it was a very competitive match! The things that caught my eye: - Maya had more aces than Serena - Serena’s backhand slice 👍

Mark Taylor2

She won Eastbourne last year and made the Semis in Seoul.

3 sources

sports.yahoo.comSerena Williams vs. Maya Joint score, live updates from Wimbledon: Serena makes return to women's singles at Centre Court worldtennismagazine.comSerena Williams’ Wimbledon Comeback Ends in First Round Defeat to Maya Joint bbc.co.ukWimbledon 2026 LIVE: Serena Williams v Maya Joint, Stan Wawrinka v Matteo Berrettini - watch streams, radio commentary, text updates, order of play & scores

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Maya Joint defeats Serena Williams at Wimbledon

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