Serena Williams discovers opponent for singles comeback in Wimbledon opener as Britain's Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper handed tricky draws
Updated 26/06/2026 at 22:53 GMT+1
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Serena Williams will start her singles comeback against 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round of Wimbledon, with Alexandra Eala a potential second-round opponent for the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
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Williams, 44, is competing in singles for the first time since the 2022 US Open, having recently made a shock return to the court in doubles.
On her last Wimbledon appearance four years ago, she was beaten in the first round by Harmony Tan, but she appears to have a winnable opener against Joint, who has lost 13 of her last 14 matches on tour.
If Williams beats Joint and Eala, she could face defending champion Iga Swiatek in the third round.
British No. 1 Emma Raducanu, who missed training on Thursday due to a reported injury concern, will face world No. 60 Antonia Ruzic in the first round.
Raducanu could meet former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko or fellow Brit Harriet Dart in the second round, followed by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round.
Sabalenka beat Raducanu at the same stage of the Grand Slam last year.
Swiatek starts her title defence against Taylor Townsend and could meet former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in the second round.
Top seed Sabalenka opens against Teodora Kostovic and has been drawn on the same half as fourth seed Jessica Pegula.
Britain's Katie Boulter starts against 18-year-old Tyra Grant.
Draper handed tough opener
Jack Draper will face world No. 7 Taylor Fritz in his first-round match at Wimbledon.
Draper, who is being coached by Andy Murray during the grass season, made his return from injury this week at Eastbourne.
If Draper beats Fritz, he would face another American, either Patrick Kypson or Mackenzie McDonald, in the second round.
Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic starts against world No. 99 Wu Yibing.
Djokovic, who is bidding to win a record 25th Grand Slam title, could face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round, and is on the same half of the draw as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Defending champion Sinner starts against Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round.
It will be Sinner's first match since his shock French Open second-round exit against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
Carlos Alcaraz is not playing at Wimbledon as he continues to recover from injury.
Daniil Medvedev opens against former Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic, and Stan Wawrinka, who is playing Wimbledon for the final time before retiring at the end of the year, faces Matteo Berrettini.
British No. 1 Cam Norrie plays Michael Zheng in the first round, while 2026 French Open champion and second seed Alexander Zverev faces Alexander Blockx.
Zverev could meet world No. 5 Ben Shelton in the semis.
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