American superstar Serena Williams will make her much-awaited singles comeback at Wimbledon against Australian world No. 53 Maya Joyce in the first round.
Williams, a seven-time women’s champion at the All England Club, has been given a wildcard to restart her singles career at the age of 44, having not played competitively since the US Open in 2022.
The 20-year-old United lost in the first round on her Wimbledon main-draw debut last year and has won just one of her last 14 matches.
British number one Emma Raducanu, seeded 30th, is set to start against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic, but there are concerns about her fitness after missing practice on Thursday due to a calf injury.
Raducanu could face top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round – as she did at Wimbledon last year.
In the men’s draw, Britain’s Jack Draper has been given a tough first-round match against American sixth seed Taylor Fritz.
Draper has continued his comeback after a list of injury problems – Andy Murray is now in his coaching team – and reached the Eastbourne semi-finals in his first tournament since April.
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