Serena Williams’ return to tennis was forseeable. Since December, when it was first reported that Williams had reentered tennis’ drug-testing pool, a comeback felt inevitable despite her denials.
The worst kept secret in sports then became official in early June when it was announced that Wiliams would play doubles at the HSBC Championships in London, her first tournament since stepping away from the court after the 2022 U.S. Open.
The comeback quickly entered Phase Two. Williams accepted a wild card into Wimbledon, an event she has won seven times, and on Tuesday morning will play her first singles match in nearly four years, a first-round affair on Centre Court against 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint, the 87th ranked player in the world. Fanatics Sportsbooks lists Joint as a –140 favorite.
Williams remained a public figure while on sabbatical. (Remember, she never used the word “retirement.” Williams simply stated she was “evolving away from tennis.”) She became a regular at the Met Gala and gleefully Crip-walked during fellow Compton native Kendrick Lamar’s set at the Super Bowl. Now a mother of two, the GOAT also runs a venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, among other businesses, and is the star of a ubiquitous ad campaign for a GLP-1 product.
But what did she miss while taking a break from the game? Women’s tennis is in a much different place in 2026. There are new stars, new rules (no more line judges at Wimbledon!), and a new hierarchy at the top. This is Everything That Happened in Women’s Tennis Since Serena Williams Retired.
Coco Gauff is now the biggest star in the sport
For the third straight year, the 22-year-old from Delray Beach was the world’s highest-paid female athlete. Gauff, who earned an estimated $33 million in 2025, backs it up on the court, having won the 2023 U.S. Open and 2025 French Open.
But Aryna Sabalenka is the best player in the world
The Belarusian powerhouse first claimed the world no. 1 ranking in September 2023 but traded it back and forth with Iga Świątek throughout 2024. Saba has tightened her grip on the crown though as Świątek’s dominance on clay receeded. Her current run of 89 consecutive weeks atop the rankings is the ninth longest streak in WTA history.
The Grand Slams have become more demorcratized
Eight women have combined to win the 15 majors since Williams’ last match.
- Iga Świątek (Four - 2022 U.S. Open, 2023 French Open, 2024 French Open, 2025 Wimbledon)
- Aryna Sabalenka (Four - 2023 Australian Open, 2024 Australian Open, 2024 U.S. Open, 2025 U.S. Open)
- Coco Gauff (Two - 2023 U.S. Open, 2025 French Open)
- Markéta Vondroušová (2023 Wimbledon)
- Barbora Krejčíková (2024 Wimbledon)
- Madison Keys (2025 Australian Open)
- Elena Rybakina (2026 Australian Open)
- Mirra Andreeva (2026 French Open)
Former Grand Slam champs in decline
Before Williams’ exit, a trio of young stars looked poised to dominate women’s tennis over the next decade. Naomi Osaka, who beat Serena in the 2018 U.S. Open final, won four majors before going on maternity leave prior to the 2023 Australian Open. Though still one of the biggest stars in the sport, Osaka has struggled with consistency and confidence since returning in early 2024.
Bianca Andreescu appeared to be the Next Big Thing after taking down Williams in the 2019 U.S. Open final as a 19-year-old. But injuries have plagued her career and the Canadian is languishing outside the top 100.
Emma Raducanu became a media sensation after winning the 2021 U.S. Open as a qualifier, even covering British Vogue shortly thereafter. But she too has struggled due to injuries and a constantly rotating team—Raducanu has worked with at least eight coaches since her breakthrough.
New Stars Emerge
As some former Grand Slam champs fade, new, emerging stars appeared on the horizon. Mirra Andreeva announced her arrival at Indian Wells in 2025, defeating Sabalenka in the final to claim a Masters 1000 title as a 17-year-old. Now 19, Andreeva won the 2026 French Open with a mix of blistering all-court play and elite point construction.
Last summer Victoria Mboko was barely in the top 100 and had to receive a Wild Card to gain entry into the Montreal Masters. But the 18-year-old Canadian went on a run, toppling four former major winners (Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka) en route to the biggest title of her career. Williams was so impressed that she tabbed Mboko as her doubles partner when she returned last month at Queen’s Club. But the young phenom suffered an MCL injury during their doubles match and will miss Wimbledon.
Farewell and Goodbye
A slew of former top players have retired since Serena Williams’ last match including former Grand Slam winners Samantha Stosur, Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, and former ranked players Coco Vandeweghe, Alize Cornet, Camila Giorgi, Genie Bouchard, Caroline Garcia, and Anett Kontaveit, who Serena defeated 7-6 2-6 6-2 in the second round of the 2022 U.S. Open for her last professional win.
But Big Sister is Still Around
Though Venus Williams is not playing singles at Wimbledon, she’s still active on the WTA tour. Venus, 46, is now ranked 471 in the world. A seven-time major winner, she’s lost 20 of 24 singles matches since the 2022 U.S. Open, and is currently on an 11-match losing streak. Venus and Serena will play doubles at Wimbledon.
Can Serena Win Wimbledon?
Serena Williams is a seven-time Wimbledon champion and the greatest women’s tennis player of all time. But she is 44-years-old and returning from a nearly four-year hiatus. The draw is also working against her. If she were to defeat Joint, Williams would then likely face Alexandra Eala, seeded 29, in the second round, before a potential blockbuster against defending champion Iga Świątek in the third round.
But if Serena somehow survives into the second week, look out: The draw opens up following the Świątek tilt. Squint and there is a path for the GOAT to claim a 24th Grand Slam singles title. Williams is +6000 to win the tournament per Fanatics Sportsbook.
