Watch as Serena Williams arrives on court to face former Eastbourne champion in long-awaited Wimbledon return

On Tuesday (June 30), the 44-year-old tennis icon stepped back onto a singles court for the first time since 2022 – which was also the most recent year she played at Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park.

She faces Australia's Joint, aged 20, who won last year’s tournament in Eastbourne – her second WTA title. Joint edged Alexandra Eala in a thrilling final that became the youngest Eastbourne women's final in the tournament's history.

Williams has played in Eastbourne three times, making her debut in 1998 before returning in 2011 and again in 2022 as she prepared for what was then expected to be her farewell Wimbledon campaign.

Williams was the centre of attention from the moment she arrived to play in the doubles, with Ons Jabeur. Williams said: “It was so great; we had a lot of fun. I called her [to play], she’s playing so well and she’s always been so nice on tour. It’s been a while but it was good to feel the court again.”

Now, four years later, the 23-time Grand Slam champion is back once more, beginning an extraordinary comeback against a promising young talent in the women's game.

The contrast could hardly be greater. Williams is 24 years older than Joint, who was born seven years after Serena won her first of 23 Grand Slams in singles.

Whether experience or youthful momentum prevails, Eastbourne's recent and distant history will be represented on Centre Court.

Speaking ahead of the match, Williams said she was approaching her long-awaited return to Wimbledon with a completely different mindset, after four years away from singles tennis.

She admitted the reality of returning to competition only truly clicked during recent grass-court preparations in London and Berlin, when playing in doubles.

“Being at Queen’s in particular, because it was in London, I was like, ‘Oh, this is real, like I’m actually playing again,’” she said.

Williams also revealed her decision to return to singles was made at the very last minute.

“I had until Monday to decide… I think it was like Sunday. I just wasn’t sure up until then,” she recalled.

"Honestly, I’m still not even sure, but we’ll see.”

The former world number one said her outlook has shifted significantly compared to previous Wimbledon campaigns.

“I think my expectations are definitely different for the first time in my career,” Williams said. “I feel like I’m really going to enjoy being out there.”