Serena Williams made a stunning comeback to singles tennis at Wimbledon’s Centre Court on Tuesday but her daughter missed the action
Serena Williams has officially made her stunning comeback to singles competition on one of tennis’ grandest stages, Wimbledon’s Centre Court. The seven-time former champion received a standing ovation as she walked out on Tuesday, with her personal box packed with supporters, including her two daughters, Alexis Olympia, eight, and Adira River, two.
When Williams last played a singles match against Ajla Tomljanovic at the 2022 US Open, widely believed to be the final competitive outing of her career, Adira had not yet been born. The 23-time major-winner welcomed her second child a year after that emotional farewell in August 2023.
However, the two-year-old was not permitted to remain in Williams’ box for the match as the All England Club enforces a strict age policy requiring children to be at least five years old to attend a match. As a result, Adira was required to leave before play commenced, while Olympia was able to stay and took her seat alongside her father, Alexis Ohanian.
Wimbledon’s age restriction rules also had an impact on two-time former champion Andy Murray during his final appearance at the tournament in 2024. The Scot has four children with his wife, Kim, but only their two eldest daughters were permitted to sit in his box when the former world No. 1 partnered his brother, Jamie, in doubles two years ago.
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Williams’ children have played a pivotal role in their mother’s comeback and were also present at Queen’s when she returned to action in doubles alongside Victoria Mboko.
Both were permitted to watch from her box and Olympia has been spotted on the practice court with the former world No. 1 on several occasions, passing her balls and lending a hand.
Naturally, the American tennis icon still commanded considerable support, even without her youngest daughter in her box. Beneath the Centre Court roof, the atmosphere was electric, with fans cheering, whooping and screaming as she made her entrance.
The noise only intensified as she approached the net for the coin toss and dashed to the baseline to warm up.
After the knock-up, the main event got underway, with cries of “come on, Serena” ringing out. One fan, perhaps an Australian, made a point of getting behind 20-year-old Maya Joint and fired back with a “come on, Maya!”
A huge cheer erupted when Williams claimed the opening point of the match as Joint sent a forehand long. It would have been entirely understandable if the weight of the occasion and Williams’ towering legacy had unsettled the world No. 87 but Joint steadied the ship and held to lead 1-0.
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Williams received another thunderous reception as she stepped up to serve for the first time in a singles match since September 2, 2022. She held to love, swiftly putting to rest any concerns over her sharpness after four years away from the game.
However, the American was unable to capitalise on two break points in the fifth game of the match. It was then Joint’s turn to seize the initiative as Williams double-faulted, handing her opponent the chance to forge ahead as the Australian duly broke and served out the first set 6-3.
