Serena Williams made her long-awaited Wimbledon singles return on Tuesday, but the 44-year-old fell to Australia's Maya Joint in a three-set battle. The 23-time Grand Slam champion showed flashes of her former brilliance before fading in the third set, losing 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-3. It marked Williams' first singles match at SW19 since 2022.

Williams captured her first point in 1,462 days when Joint sent a return long, drawing warm applause from the Centre Court crowd. Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash praised both players' quality, noting Joint handled Williams' power well. The American played better than her 2022 farewell but struggled with movement, often caught off balance.

Williams had only competed in two doubles matches before this singles comeback, lacking match sharpness. Her serve still produced winners, but Joint's consistency proved decisive. The result raises questions about whether Williams can sustain this level through a full tournament.

With the US Open looming as her next major challenge, Williams needs more matches to regain full rhythm. The physical demands of best-of-five sets against younger opponents will test whether she can mount a deeper run in Flushing Meadows.