Wimbledon 2026 schedule: When Serena Williams plays today

Serena Williams faces Maya Joint on Centre Court at Wimbledon on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, as the third match of the day, with play expected around midday ET once earlier matches finish. U.S. viewers can watch on ESPN or stream via the ESPN app and ESPN Unlimited; UK fans can follow on the BBC. If you are checking the Wimbledon 2026 schedule for when Williams plays today, you are not alone. The seven-time champion's first singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open has turned a routine first-round draw into one of the biggest early stories at the All England Club.

Key Takeaways

• Serena Williams plays Maya Joint on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, as the third match on Centre Court, with an estimated start around midday ET.
• In the United States, the match airs on ESPN and streams through the ESPN app, with individual court feeds available via ESPN Unlimited.
• Williams, 44, is making her first Wimbledon singles appearance since a 2022 first-round loss to Harmony Tan and her first pro singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open.
• Joint, a 20-year-old Australian who turned pro in 2021, represents a new generation that grew up watching Williams dominate the sport.
• Williams and sister Venus are expected to reunite in Wimbledon doubles later in the week after Serena eased back through doubles earlier in June.

A first-round match at Wimbledon is rarely treated like the main event. Serena Williams' return is one of the exceptions. For fans who remember her seven singles titles on these lawns, from 2002 through 2016, Tuesday's matchup is less about bracket math and more about a legend testing what she still has at 44.

Williams stepped away after the 2022 U.S. Open, describing the move as evolving away from tennis rather than a traditional retirement. She has since had a second child, built her business portfolio, and largely lived a post-competition life before easing back through doubles earlier this month. Now she is stepping into the singles draw at Wimbledon with a lighter mindset.

As of now, I am not nervous, Williams said ahead of the match, adding that her expectation is to stay calm, take it easy, and have fun. That tone fits the Then and Now framing of this comeback: the player who once carried the weight of every Grand Slam now wants the court to feel like a reunion, not a reckoning. Explore more stories like this in our Nostalgia: Then and Now coverage.

What time is Serena Williams playing at Wimbledon today?

Williams is scheduled to play Joint on Tuesday, June 30, as the third match on Centre Court. Play on the showpiece court begins at 8:30 a.m. ET with Taylor Townsend facing defending champion Iga Swiatek, followed by Alexander Blockx against Alexander Zverev.

Williams versus Joint will begin only after those two matches conclude, so the exact start time depends on how long the earlier contests run. As of publication, the match is expected around midday ET, though Wimbledon scheduling can shift quickly when matches go long.

Centre Court typically starts later than the outer courts, where first-round action on day two began at 6 a.m. ET across the grounds. That staggered schedule is why Williams' slot is best thought of as an afternoon window rather than a fixed tee time.

How can you stream Serena Williams at Wimbledon 2026?

In the United States, Williams' first-round match against Joint airs on ESPN. Viewers can also stream Wimbledon coverage through the ESPN app, with individual court streams available through ESPN Unlimited. ESPN coverage is additionally available through select live TV streaming services that carry the network.

Outside the U.S., coverage varies by country. In the U.K., matches are available across the BBC, including BBC One, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Sport. International viewers can consult Wimbledon's official television broadcasters guide for the rights holder in their region.

For cord-cutters planning around Williams' Centre Court window, setting alerts on your streaming app is wise. With Swiatek and Zverev scheduled ahead of her, delays are likely if either match stretches to three sets or beyond.

Who is Serena Williams facing in her Wimbledon comeback?

Williams will face Maya Joint, a 20-year-old Australian who turned professional in 2021. Joint belongs to the generation that grew up watching Williams collect Grand Slam titles, which adds an unmistakable storyline to a first-round pairing.

For Williams, the return is a walk back onto a court where she has made history. For Joint, a match that might have been a quiet opener has become one of the most watched of the tournament's first week. The age gap is stark: Joint was born after Williams had already won several major championships, yet Joint has spoken about Williams with respect.

The result could become a Serena comeback moment, a Maya Joint breakout, or simply an early read on what this version of Williams can still bring. Either way, it has already grown bigger than a normal first-round match.

When was Serena Williams' last singles match?

Williams' last professional singles match came at the 2022 U.S. Open, where she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round. Her last Wimbledon singles appearance came earlier that same year, when she fell to Harmony Tan in the opening round.

That 2022 summer marked a turning point. Within months she stepped away from full-time competition, and the sport moved on without its most recognizable star in singles. The gap makes Tuesday's Centre Court walk feel like a time capsule opening in real time.

She has not been entirely absent from tennis in 2026. Williams returned earlier this month through doubles before committing to singles at Wimbledon, a gradual re-entry that mirrors how carefully she has managed her post-2022 life.

How many times has Serena Williams won Wimbledon?

Williams has won seven Wimbledon singles titles, with victories in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2016. She has also captured six Wimbledon women's doubles titles alongside Venus Williams.

The sisters are expected to reunite in doubles at Wimbledon later this week, adding another layer of nostalgia for fans who remember their dominance across both disciplines. A singles run would be remarkable at 44; a doubles appearance would feel like a family reunion on the sport's most famous grass.

Whether Williams advances past Joint or bows out early, her 2026 Wimbledon schedule has already delivered the headline the tournament needed on day two. The question was never really if people would watch. It was when.