Serena returns to Wimbledon singles as Swiatek, Zverev begin campaigns

Serena Williams will make her long-awaited return to Grand Slam singles competition on Tuesday when the American legend steps onto Centre Court at Wimbledon for the first time in four years.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion will face Australia‍‍`s Maya Joint in the opening round, marking her first singles match since the 2022 US Open, where she announced she was stepping away from professional tennis.

Williams, 44, confirmed her surprise comeback earlier this month and has already returned to competition in doubles, recording one win and one defeat. She is also set to play doubles at Wimbledon alongside her sister Venus Williams.

Speaking ahead of her return, Williams admitted she expects to feel nervous but said those emotions have always been part of her career.

She enters the tournament against Joint, whose recent form has been poor after losing 13 of her last 14 matches. The Australian has slipped to 87th in the WTA rankings after being ranked inside the world‍‍`s top 30 earlier this year.

Williams will become the second-oldest woman to compete in the Wimbledon singles draw during the Open era, behind Martina Navratilova, who played at the tournament at the age of 47 in 2004.

Earlier on Centre Court, defending champion Iga Swiatek begins her title defence after an inconsistent clay-court season.

The Polish star suffered an early exit at the French Open but returns to Wimbledon hoping to rediscover the form that earned her a maiden grass-court Grand Slam title last year.

Second seed Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, also begins her campaign as she continues her pursuit of the world number one ranking.

On the men‍‍`s side, newly crowned French Open champion Alexander Zverev starts his Wimbledon campaign aiming to improve on his modest record at the All England Club.

Despite winning his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, the German has never progressed beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon and opens against Belgium‍‍`s Alexander Blockx.

Elsewhere, American sixth seed Taylor Fritz faces Dusan Lajovic, while three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka begins what is expected to be his final Wimbledon appearance against former finalist Matteo Berrettini.