According to Sportbible, Serena Williams’ highly anticipated return to Grand Slam singles tennis at Wimbledon was cut short in the first round, as the 23-time major champion fell to 20-year-old Australian wildcard Maya Joint in a hard-fought three-set encounter.

The veteran, who had taken a four-year hiatus from the sport before announcing her comeback on June 1, was defeated 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 by a determined Joint. Williams had received a wildcard entry into the singles draw, aiming for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title, a feat many believed was out of reach after her emotional third-round loss at the 2022 US Open, which was widely expected to be her final singles match.

A challenging comeback

Since her official return to tennis, Williams had only competed in doubles events, making her singles match against Joint her first Grand Slam singles appearance in two years. Her last outing at Wimbledon in 2022 also ended in a first-round exit, where she was defeated by Harmony Tan.

As reported by Sportbible, the match against Joint proved to be a stern test. Despite Williams’ experience, the young Australian displayed remarkable composure. For Joint, the victory marked a major milestone in her career. She had exited in the first round at Wimbledon last year and entered the tournament on an 11-match tour-level losing streak, with her previous victory coming back in January. The win also secured her place in the second round at Wimbledon for the first time.

Read also: Hincapié sent off with a straight red card as new World Cup rule hits Ecuador

What’s next for both players

With her singles campaign over, Williams will now turn her attention to the doubles draw. She also received a wildcard to compete alongside her sister, Venus Williams. The iconic duo is set to face Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio in their opening-round match.

Meanwhile, Joint will look to build on her breakthrough performance when she faces Alexandra Eala in the second round, after Eala defeated Renata Zarazua in her opener. Joint has previously reached the second round of a Grand Slam only twice, both times at the US Open. She will also compete in the doubles tournament, partnering Ekaterina Alexandrova against Veronika Erjavec and Petra Marcinko on July 2.

Read also: Lamine Yamal reveals the one signing he wants Barcelona to make this summer