Serena Williams prepared for her much-anticipated return to Wimbledon by taking part in the Crystal Maze Experience on London's Shaftesbury Avenue alongside her eight-year-old daughter Olympia. The 44-year-old tennis legend and her daughter, wearing matching auburn bomber jackets, posed smiling in front of the iconic crystal dome from the former hit TV show.
Serena's Wimbledon Comeback
The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, who also has a two-year-old daughter Adira, is due to return to the championships on Tuesday against Australian world number 53 Maya Joint. Serena last played at Wimbledon in 2022, losing to Harmony Tan in round one. Her return to the All England Club comes just days after she made her comeback in ladies doubles at London's Queen's Club alongside Canadian star Victoria Mboko.
Doubles with Venus
Serena, widely regarded as the greatest ladies player ever, will also try to win the All England Club's doubles competition with her sister Venus, 46, for a seventh time. The Williams sisters have a wild card for the doubles and have been drawn against Colombian Camila Osorio and Argentina's Solana Sierra in the first round. Speaking about her daughter's input, the 23-time Major winner said: "Olympia told me I should play with Venus. She's always right."
First-Round Opponent Maya Joint
Joint, a 20-year-old ranked 53rd, could scarcely believe her luck, saying: "It's an honour. I always dreamed about playing Serena Williams and, if you'd told me 10 years ago that I'd be playing her in the first round at Wimbledon, it's crazy. I have so much respect for her. She was one of my idols growing up and I'm just really excited to have the opportunity to play against her."
Other Wimbledon Highlights
This year's Wimbledon championships start on Monday, with reigning champion Jannik Sinner and former champ Novak Djokovic both in action on Centre Court. British ladies number one Emma Raducanu and Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka will also begin their bids for glory. Raducanu is due to open against Croatian Antonia Ruzic but fitness doubts surround the 30th seed, who could again meet Sabalenka in the third round. Raducanu did not turn up for her scheduled practice session on Thursday, reportedly seen wearing a protective boot. Her team confirmed she is managing a niggle, and concerns grew when she did not appear on the practice schedule for Friday.
Among British players, Katie Boulter plays qualifier Tyra Caterina Grant, while 17-year-old Hannah Klugman faces former champion Barbora Krejcikova. Jack Draper, after dropping in rankings, opens against sixth seed Taylor Fritz, who reached the semi-finals last year. Defending men's champion Jannik Sinner takes on Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic first up and is in the same half as Novak Djokovic, who meets China's Wu Yibing. Cameron Norrie, Britain's only seed in the men's draw at 26th, faces American qualifier Michael Zheng, with third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime a potential third-round opponent.
