At a recent press conference for the Berlin Tennis Open, Serena Williams was asked if she would accept a singles wildcard for Wimbledon. The 23-time Grand Slam champion responded with uncertainty, questioning her readiness after having played only two doubles matches recently. Despite her initial hesitation, she is now confirmed to compete at Wimbledon not only in doubles but also in singles.
The tournament officially announced that Serena Williams will participate in the ladies’ singles draw at Wimbledon in 2026 as a wildcard entry. This news quickly became one of the most talked-about developments ahead of the prestigious event.
Following the announcement, Serena shared a lighthearted message on her social media, confirming fans’ hopes about her long-anticipated return to singles competition at SW19.
The All England Club had deliberately held back the final women’s singles wildcard spot until Serena made her decision. As a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, the organizers patiently awaited her acceptance of the invitation.
Earlier this week, after a doubles match loss, Serena appeared unsure about playing singles, surprised to learn that only one wildcard spot remained. Wildcards are special entries granted by tournament organizers, allowing selected players, including former champions and world No. 1s, to join the main draw without meeting standard qualification criteria.
Despite the offer, Serena continued to express uncertainty about her readiness during the Berlin event, leaving many wondering what her final choice would be.
Serena has not played a singles match since retiring four years ago at the US Open, where she was defeated in the third round. At the time, she avoided the label of retirement, describing her departure from tennis as “evolving” instead—a phrase that resonated with fans.
Now 44 years old, she will compete at Wimbledon in both singles and doubles, having already accepted a doubles wildcard alongside her sister, Venus Williams. For many, her singles comeback promises to be one of the tournament’s iconic moments even before play begins.
Recap of Serena’s Last Wimbledon Singles Match in 2022
Four years ago, Serena entered Wimbledon with a wildcard and came incredibly close to victory in a tense match against Harmony Tan. After pushing the contest to a final-set tiebreak, she narrowly lost by just two points.
When asked afterward if that would be her last Wimbledon appearance, Serena replied ambiguously, expressing uncertainty about her future participation.
Although she eventually stepped away from professional tennis, Serena left behind one of the greatest legacies at Wimbledon. After returning from maternity leave in 2017, she reached the finals in her next two appearances but fell short against Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep.
Her 2021 Wimbledon campaign ended prematurely due to injury during a match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Grass courts have historically been Serena’s strongest surface. She holds an impressive record of 107 wins out of 123 singles matches played on grass, reflecting an 87% winning rate.
Despite not having won a Grand Slam singles title in the past nine years and entering the tournament unranked, Serena’s recent doubles performances in Queen’s Club and Berlin have reignited hope among fans and analysts alike. The big question now centers on how far she can advance in this year’s Wimbledon singles draw.