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Serena Williams draws 20-year-old Maya Joint in first Wimbledon singles match in 4 years
By Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· June 26, 2026
· 4 min read
Serena Williams will face an opponent less than half her age when she plays 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round at Wimbledon for her first singles match in nearly four years.The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, who is 44, accepted a wild-card entry to the grass-court Grand Slam, where...
Key takeaway The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, who is 44, accepted a wild-card entry to the grass-court Grand Slam, where she’ll also compete in doubles with her older sister Venus, who turned 46 last week.
Why this matters in The Pearland
For tennis fans in Pearland , the return of Serena Williams to singles competition at Wimbledon is a significant development, particularly given her local ties to the Houston area. As a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, Williams' presence in the tournament is likely to generate excitement among local tennis enthusiasts. Her decision to accept a wild-card entry and compete in both singles and doubles with her sister Venus will be closely watched by fans in Brazoria County. With the possibility of facing highly ranked players like Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka, Williams' first-round match will be a highly anticipated event. Local tennis clubs and community centers may see an increase in interest and participation, inspired by Williams' comeback at age 44. As Wimbledon gets underway on Monday, Pearland residents will be tuning in to see how Williams fares in her first singles match in nearly four years.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Pearland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Serena Williams will face an opponent less than half her age when she plays 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round at Wimbledon for her first singles match in nearly four years.The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, who is 44, accepted a wild-card entry to the grass-court Grand Slam, where...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Pearland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Pearland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Pearland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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