Wimbledon Day 2 schedule: Serena Williams returns to Center Court

ByTech Word News

Four years after her last professional appearance, the iconic purple and green SW19 welcomes back its most decorated modern queen. Serena Williams’ stunning singles wild card reception is re-entering the tournament’s gravitas. The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion embarks on an eagerly awaited campaign on Center Court fueled by competitive fire rather than mere nostalgia.

While her legacy is already assured, the solitary Center Court singles cup presents a fascinating multi-generational test. Serena’s opening-round challenge is a tough grassroots battle against 20-year-old up-and-coming Australian talent Maya Joint, a player who wasn’t even born when Serena was already lifting Grand Slam trophies on these lawns.

Serena last played at Wimbledon in 2022. She last reached the final in 2019 and her last title here came in 2016.

Star Sports will provide TV coverage of Wimbledon 2026 in India. Live streaming available on JioHotstar.

Serena heads to Wimbledon after playing two doubles matches on grass. Her return to the WTA tour saw a first-round victory over Victoria Mboko at the Queen’s Club. She was unable to play further at Queen’s as Mboko suffered an injury.

She also played with Karolína Muchová in Berlin, where she lost the first round match of the women’s doubles.

Serena, who will play doubles with sister Venus Williams at SW19, confirmed that she had decided to participate in the singles match until last Monday.

“I had until Monday to decide,” she said.

“I think it was like Sunday (that I decided). I just wasn’t sure until then. Honestly, I’m still not sure, but we’ll see.”

But the theater of Day 2 extends far beyond Serena’s sensational comeback. Across the three primary exhibition courts, Wimbledon’s top seeds and prettiest players look to stake their claim in what promises to be a very volatile opening week.

Center Court (from 18:00 IST)

The Main Stadium opens with world No. 3 Iga Swiatek clearing a tricky opening hurdle against American Taylor Townsend’s tricky left-handed, low-skid slices. After that sensational curtain-raiser, second seed and French Open winner Alexander Zverev begins his quest for a new grass-court major against highly-rated Belgian youngster Alexandre Blockx.

Once the heavy artillery is over, the stage is set for the main act: Serena Williams will make an emotional return up the steps of the famous center court clubhouse to face Maya Joint.

  1. Iga Swiatek (3) vs Taylor Townsend
  2. Alexander Zverev (2) vs Alexander Blockx
  3. Serena Williams (WC) vs Maya Joint

Court #1 (from 5:30 PM IST)

On Court No. 1, the action begins with an absolute masterclass in baseline hitting. Sixth seed Taylor Fritz looks to capitalize on his big American game against the veteran guile of Dusan Lajovic. Right after that, second seed Elena Rybakina begins her campaign as a heavy favorite for the title, bringing her destructive serve to the grass against France’s Lois Boisson.

Rounding out the star-studded bill on court two is a thrilling old-school men’s clash. Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka takes on former finalist Matteo Berrettini in what promises to be a brutal display of grass-roots power and pedigree.

  1. Taylor Fritz (6) vs. Dusan Lajovič
  2. Elena Rybakina (2) vs. Lois Boisson
  3. Stan Wawrinka vs Matteo Berrettini

Court #2 (from 3:30 PM IST)

Court No. 2, historically known as the Champion’s Graveyard, offers an intimate pressure cooker atmosphere from the afternoon onwards. The main action starts early, with sixth seed Amanda Anisim looking to overcome the line of Gjorcheska of North Macedonia.

After them, explosive fourth seed Ben Shelton brings his electrifying brand of grass tennis against Finland’s generous Otto Virtanen. Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, seeded eighth, faces a tricky Ukrainian derby against flat-hitting Daria Snigurova, before Italy’s rising star Flavio Cobolli closes the day against Argentinian clay-court specialist Mariano Navone in a fascinating clash of styles.

  1. Amanda Anisimova (6) vs. Line Gjorcheska
  2. Ben Shelton (4) vs. Otto Virtanen
  3. Elina Svitolina (8) vs Daria Snigur
  4. Flavio Cobolli vs Mariano Navone

– The end

Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

June 30, 2026 1:03 PM IST