Serena Williams to Play Singles at Wimbledon 2026

Serena Williams will make her highly anticipated singles return at Wimbledon 2026 after receiving a wild card entry, marking a comeback after her last match in 2022.

Serena Williams’ last singles outing was at the 2022 U.S. Open, but that is set to change as Wimbledon recently announced her entry into the singles draw for 2026 on a wild card. This comeback at 44 comes nearly four years after she officially stepped away from singles play.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion concluded her initial career chapter with a gripping three-set match against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović at the 2022 U.S. Open. Since then, she has been easing back into competition, recently participating in doubles events with her sister, Venus Williams, who is also a WTA icon.

During warm-up events in London and Berlin, Williams was tentative yet reflective regarding her return to singles. At Queen’s, where she triumphed over Canada’s Victoria Mboko, she shared, “I feel like I’m probably going to train a little bit more. I want to play singles and we’ll see if I get there and if not, that’s not my journey right now.” At the Berlin Tennis Open, she was less forthcoming about her Wimbledon prospects, despite being part of the announced doubles wild card alongside Venus.

Williams has always hinted at the possibility of returning to singles rather than completely stepping away from the sport. Now a mother of two young children, aged 8 and 3, she aims to showcase her passion for tennis to them.

After a six-month period in the anti-doping testing pool, Williams became eligible for tournament play in February. Yet, she was swift to dismiss any expectations of a comeback when her name appeared on the eligibility list last December, taking to social media to say, “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.” However, during an appearance on the “Today” show in January, when asked about her future plans, she opted to keep people guessing, laughing, “If I want to put it to bed … Listen, I want to go to bed — it’s early.”

Despite inquiries into her plans, her team has remained silent regarding her participation in both doubles and singles. Williams last lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 2016, also winning the doubles title alongside Venus that year. Her departure from active competition appeared definitive after her last match but has now taken an intriguing turn.

Williams holds a record 23 singles Grand Slam titles, more than any female player in the Open Era. In addition to her singles achievements, she has also secured 14 doubles and 2 mixed titles, amassing almost $95 million in prize money throughout her illustrious career. Beyond her accolades, Williams has influenced how tennis is perceived by reshaping the cultural landscape surrounding the sport.

As she gears up for the challenges of singles play, the possibility of competing against younger stars like Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, and Coco Gauff is both exciting and daunting. “I don’t need to win. I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives. I don’t have anything to lose. Everything is just a gain,” Williams remarked during a recent press conference, emphasizing her unique approach to this phase of her career.

The forthcoming return at Wimbledon not only signifies her re-entry into singles competition but also poses a unique challenge. Competing in singles at her age presents a different level of physical demand, yet Williams has already demonstrated her competitive spirit through her early matches back. The announcement of her singles wild card has elevated expectations surrounding her return.

While the doubles event poses its own set of challenges, the shift back to singles will test her resilience and capabilities against a younger generation who grew up admiring her. The atmosphere surrounding her participation is unprecedented, making her comeback one of the most anticipated events in tennis history.

As fans look forward to Wimbledon 2026, Williams aims not just for victories, but to rekindle her passion for the sport she loves, all while inspiring a new generation, including her own children, to remember her legacy on the court.