Serena Williams’ highly anticipated campaign at Wimbledon ended abruptly in the first round.
The 44-year-old legend, who made her groundbreaking return to professional tennis earlier in the grass swing, played her first singles match since 2022 at the Championships.
Having received a wildcard to compete in singles at Wimbledon, Williams fell to 20-year-old Maya Joint in her opening-round matchup.
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The American put on an impressive display at her age, taking a WTA star 24 years her junior to a decisive third set on Centre Court.
And yet Williams still received criticism from fans after her defeat, which fellow tennis legend Novak Djokovic addressed recently.
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Appearing on CBS Mornings, Djokovic said of Williams: “Let’s enjoy and celebrate who she is, what she has achieved.
“What she’s doing now, after having two children, after being away from professional tennis for so many years, is a gift for us, for anyone who loves tennis, for anyone who loves sport, for anyone who admires Serena and her legacy.
“And whatever happens, I mean, it doesn’t matter if she wins or loses, it’s already epic. It’s what I told her personally in Wimbledon, and it’s what I truly, honestly feel in my heart.
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“So I want her to feel happy and joyful on the court, because in a sense, to some extent, I know how it feels, still trying to push at that age when you have achieved everything that you possibly can.
“But just looking at her being on the court is already a sight for the eyes. So I wish her all the best.”
Serena Williams’ results since returning to professional tennis
Williams officially made her return to WTA Tour-level action at the Queen’s Club Championships in June.
There, she featured in doubles alongside 19-year-old star Victoria Mboko, and together the two won their opening match against third-seeded Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
However Mboko suffered an injury in her singles run at Queen’s, meaning she and Williams had to pull out of the tournament.
Williams then partnered with Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Open, but the two stars fell in their first match.
It is not yet confirmed whether Williams will appear at the US Open, which was her last tournament before initially retiring in 2022.
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