Who will Serena Williams face in her Grand Slam comeback? Wimbledon draw explained

ByTech Word News

Serena Williams will face Australia’s Maya Joint in the opening round of the women’s singles at Wimbledon after the draw was announced on Friday, June 26. The 44-year-old received a wild card into the main drawshe scored her first Grand Slam singles appearance since the 2022 US Open and first Wimbledon singles match in four years.

Despite being just 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 main first-round clashes. Joint had a breakout year in 2025, winning two WTA titles in Morocco and Eastbourne.

If Williams advances, she is tipped to face Filipina Alexandra Eal in the second round before facing defending champion and third seed Igo Swiatek in the third round. Williams and Swiatek have never met on the WTA Tour, adding more intrigue to a potential matchup.

Here are Serena Williams’ predicted Wimbledon 2026 opponents

  • Round 1: Maya Joint
  • Round 2: Alexandra Eala/Renata Zaraz
  • Round 3: Iga Swiatek
  • Round 4: Amanda Anisim or Madison Keys
  • Quarterfinals: Elena Rybakina
  • Semifinals: 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 tie is stacked well across both halves. World number one Aryna Sabalenka opens her campaign against qualifier Teodora Kostovic, while second seed Elena Rybakina begins against France’s Lois Boisson. Swiateková begins her title defense against American Taylor Townsend, and fourth seed Jessica Pegula will face Czech qualifier Darja Vidmanová.

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 full of compelling stories.

But attention will be firmly on Williams as she attempts to write 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 exciting prospect of a first-ever meeting with Swiatek in the third round, one of the potential blockbuster clashes of the tournament’s opening week.

Predicted 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 is the first round breakdown for the 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 Muchová vs Anastasiia Zakharova
  • (WC) Serena Williams vs Maya Joint

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

26 Jun 2026 16:38 IST