She is back for history: Serena Williams granted an unexpected Wimbledon wildcard for a singles return

Monday, 22 June 2026 at 09:43

Serena Williams has been officially confirmed for the Wimbledon 2026 women’s singles draw after receiving a main-draw wildcard from the All England Club on Sunday. The 44-year-old will return to Grand Slam singles competition for the first time since the 2022 US Open.

The decision ends weeks of uncertainty around whether Williams would be included in the singles field. She had already accepted a Wimbledon doubles wildcard alongside her sister Venus Williams, but her participation in singles remained unconfirmed until the official announcement.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and seven-time Wimbledon winner, has been gradually re-entering competitive tennis through selective appearances. Her most recent activity includes doubles matches at Queen’s, where she partnered Victoria Mboko, and later in Berlin Ladies Open alongside Karolína Muchová.

Those appearances, combined with her training at Wimbledon in recent weeks, were viewed as part of a structured return to competitive match play. However, until Sunday, it was unclear whether this build-up would culminate in a singles wildcard at the Championships.

Road back to Wimbledon singles

The singles confirmation completes Williams’ entry into Wimbledon across both disciplines. Her doubles wildcard with Venus had already signalled a formal return to the tournament, but the singles decision had been pending during the final allocation of wildcards by organisers.

Williams last competed in Grand Slam singles at the 2022 US Open, where she exited after a three-set loss to Ajla Tomljanović. Since then, her appearances have been selective, with grass-court doubles seen as a transitional step rather than a full competitive schedule.

Her Wimbledon return carries additional historical context. She last won the singles title in 2016, the same year she and Venus secured the doubles crown. She arrives at Wimbledon 2026 with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 doubles majors, and 73 career singles titles, marking one of the most decorated resumes in tennis history.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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