Williams loses singles return to Joint at Wimbledon
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- Serena Williams, 44, lost 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 to Australia's Maya Joint in her first Wimbledon singles match in 1,462 days, ending a competitive return after four years away from singles.
- Williams registered serves above 120mph but showed laboured movement, conceding points without attempting to reach the ball, with Laura Robson noting her breathing looked tense and her shots lacked conviction.
- Williams improved dramatically in the second set, using her serve to save a match point and force a deciding set, more than tripling her first-set winner count to 17.
- Joint fired 15 winners to Williams' four in the third set, regrouping from a break down to close out the match and weather Williams' surge.
- Williams opted to release a statement instead of speaking at a post-match press conference, having played only two doubles matches in preparation for the singles return.
- Pat Cash told BBC Radio 5 Live that Williams played better than she did at the end of her career four years ago, with Annabel Croft calling her unlucky to face a player of Joint's caliber.
Why it matters: Williams opted for a written statement over a press conference after her first singles match in 1,462 days, an unusual move suggesting how personally she took the loss. With only two doubles matches of preparation and movement visibly an issue, her next test is whether her body can handle the US Open schedule in two months.
