Wimbledon 2026 gets underway with historic return of Serena Williams

The 2026 Wimbledon tournament begins this week, featuring high-profile matches and the return of 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. Now 44, Williams accepted a wildcard entry for her first singles appearance since the 2022 U.S. Open, facing Australian Maya Joint in the opening round. Monday’s schedule includes top seeds Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, who face Miomir Kecmanovic and Teodora Kostovic respectively. Other notable first-round matchups include Novak Djokovic against Wu Yibing, and Daniil Medvedev against Marin Cilic. Stan Wawrinka, 41, is also participating in what is expected to be his final Wimbledon appearance. Tournament organizers confirmed a packed schedule on Centre Court and Court One, while players like Jannik Sinner look to defend their titles. Athletes expressed varying levels of preparation, with Sinner skipping pre-tournament events to manage fitness and performance doubts. The event features both singles and doubles competitions, with Williams also set to pair with her sister Venus.