Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon after a four‑year hiatus, entering the ladies’ singles as a wildcard and opening against Australian world No. 53 Maya Joint. The 44‑year‑old seven‑time champion faces a 20‑year‑old who won only one of her last 14 matches, making the tie appear heavily in Williams’ favor. A centre‑court slot remains unconfirmed, but the buzz guarantees high viewership.

Britain’s Jack Draper draws a daunting first‑round clash with sixth‑seed American Taylor Fritz. The 24‑year‑old, still shaking off a string of injuries and now coached by Andy Murray, reached the Eastbourne semi‑finals in his first event since April. Home hope Emma Raducanu, seeded 30th, opens against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic despite a lingering shin problem, while Cameron Norrie leads the British pack as the highest‑ranked male.

Seven‑time champion Novak Djokovic opens his quest for a record‑tying 25th major against China’s Wu Yibing, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner defends his title versus Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic. Iga Świątek starts against American Taylor Townsend, and a potential Williams‑Swiatek showdown looms in round three. The early match‑ups set a demanding path for seeds and add intrigue to this year’s championship.