Serena Williams is set to face Australia’s Maya Joint in the opening round of the Wimbledon women’s singles after the draw was announced on Friday, June 26. The 44-year-old received a wildcard entry into the main draw, marking her first Grand Slam singles appearance since the 2022 US Open and her first Wimbledon singles match in four years.
Despite being only 20, Joint is regarded as one of Australia’s brightest young prospects, making her clash with the 23-time Grand Slam champion one of the marquee first-round contests. Joint had a breakout year in 2025 when she won two WTA titles in Morocco and Eastbourne.
If Williams advances, she is projected to face the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala in the second round before a potential blockbuster third-round showdown against defending champion and third seed Iga Swiatek. Williams and Swiatek have never met on the WTA Tour, adding further intrigue to a possible encounter.
Here’s Serena Williams’ projected opponents at Wimbledon 2026
- Round 1: Maya Joint
- Round 2: Alexandra Eala/Renata Zaraza
- Round 3: Iga Swiatek
- Round 4: Amanda Anisimova or Madison Keys
- Quarterfinals: Elena Rybakina
- Semi-finals: Jessica Pegula/Mirra Andreeva/Qinwen Zheng/Coco Gauff
- Final: Aryna Sabalenka or another player emerging from the top half
WHO WILL SABALENKA, RYBAKINA, SWIATEK START AGAINST?
The women’s draw is stacked with quality across both halves. World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka opens her campaign against qualifier Teodora Kostovic, while second seed Elena Rybakina begins against France’s Lois Boisson. Swiatek starts her title defence against American Taylor Townsend, and fourth seed Jessica Pegula takes on Czech qualifier Darja Vidmanova.
Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu faces Antonia Ruzic, Naomi Osaka takes on Elsa Jacquemot, Coco Gauff meets Tamara Korpatsch, and Mirra Andreeva begins her campaign against Magda Linette. With established champions, rising stars and the return of Serena Williams, the women’s singles draw is brimming with compelling storylines.
However, the spotlight will firmly be on Williams as she attempts to script another memorable chapter at the All England Club. A win over Joint would not only mark a successful return to Grand Slam singles but also set up the tantalising prospect of a first-ever meeting with Swiatek in the third round, one of the potential blockbuster clashes of the tournament’s opening week.
Projected women’s singles quarterfinals
- (1) Aryna Sabalenka vs (5) Mirra Andreeva
- (4) Jessica Pegula vs (7) Coco Gauff
- (3) Iga Swiatek vs (8) Elina Svitolina
- (2) Elena Rybakina vs (6) Amanda Anisimova
Here’s the first-round schedule for top players in the women’s singles draw
- (1) Aryna Sabalenka vs Teodora Kostovic (Q)
- (2) Elena Rybakina vs Lois Boisson
- (3) Iga Swiatek vs Taylor Townsend
- (4) Jessica Pegula vs Darja Vidmanova (Q)
- (5) Mirra Andreeva vs Magda Linette
- (6) Amanda Anisimova vs Lina Gjorcheska (Q)
- (7) Coco Gauff vs Tamara Korpatsch
- (8) Elina Svitolina vs Daria Snigur
- (9) Linda Noskova vs Ella Seidel
- (10) Karolina Muchova vs Anastasiia Zakharova
- (WC) Serena Williams vs Maya Joint
– Ends
