Serena Williams Makes Singles Comeback at Wimbledon 2026

Serena Williams will participate in the Wimbledon 2026 singles tournament after receiving a wild card entry. The announcement came on Sunday. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, last played singles at the 2022 U.S. Open. There, she ended the first part of her career with a three-set loss to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović.

After focusing on doubles for her tennis return, Williams partnered with her sister Venus at Wimbledon. The 44-year-old now returns to the singles format, a version of tennis she dominated at a Grand Slam she has won seven times.

In recent press conferences in London and Berlin, Williams reflected on her potential singles return. At Queen’s, after winning her first match back with Canada’s Victoria Mboko, she mentioned her interest in playing singles. Serena stated, “I feel like I’m probably going to train a little bit more. I want to play singles and we’ll see if I get there and if not, that’s not my journey right now.”

The Berlin Tennis Open saw Williams paired with Karolína Muchová from the Czech Republic. There, she avoided commenting on potential singles participation at Wimbledon. At the time, while some wild cards were announced, the singles spot now confirmed was still unfulfilled.

Ever open to a return, Williams framed her departure from tennis at the 2022 U.S. Open as an “evolution,” avoiding the term “retirement.” Now a mother to children aged 8 and 3, she reflects on returning to court for them to witness her sporting prowess.

After rejoining tennis’ anti-doping testing pool for six months, Williams was eligible for events as of February. Last December, her presence in the testing pool sparked comeback rumors, which she quickly dismissed on social media.

In a “Today” show interview, Williams had the chance to dispel rumors. She opted to keep the conversation light instead, humorously deflecting direct answers about her tennis future.

Williams’ team has been silent on her return plans. Her last Wimbledon triumph came in 2016, both in singles and doubles with Venus. This evolution seemed to close a storied career where Williams amassed 23 singles Grand Slam titles, 14 doubles, and two mixed. Her 73 singles titles earned her near $95 million in prize money, cementing her as a pivotal sporting and cultural figure.

Serena Williams’ last Wimbledon title came in 2016. (Glyn Kirk / AFP via Getty Images)

Williams’ influence transcends wins. She reshaped tennis, affecting both participation and viewership. Her return tests her legacy against today’s stars, many of whom looked up to her, such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina.

Her comeback is guided by a relaxed sentiment voiced at Queen’s. She claimed, “I don’t need to win. I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives. I don’t have anything to lose. Everything is just a gain.”

Senior tennis writer Charlie Eccleshare highlights the significance of Williams playing doubles with Venus after four years away. But a singles wild card elevates the comeback. While doubles presents challenges, Williams plans to use her serve as a key weapon, especially on grass.

Her reputation may impact opponents, causing them to falter under pressure, as seen in her Queen’s match with Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez. Opponents in singles will face an unfamiliar experience on Centre Court.

Martina Navratilova’s return to Wimbledon singles in 2004, a decade after her last match, offers comparisons. Yet, today’s expansive media landscape magnifies expectations.

Williams winning at Wimbledon would be extraordinary. While sky-high expectations continue, her main focus is playing again, offering her children a glimpse of her prime. The journey remains unpredictable. Success or failure at Wimbledon won’t deflate her spirit. Her participation in both singles and doubles adds to the intrigue of this remarkable tennis chapter.