London: Serena Williams faced an Australian in her last singles match almost four years ago and her comeback at Wimbledon will begin the same way.
Australia’s top-ranked woman, Michigan-born Maya Joint, has drawn the American legend in the first round in what is certain to be the most-watched – and biggest – match of the 20-year-old’s life.
Joint has endured a challenging season, winning just one match since reaching the quarter-finals in Adelaide in January while dealing with injuries, in particular to her back.
Three years and nine months after Ajla Tomljanovic appeared to have ended Williams’ career, she is back as a 44-year-old mother-of-two trying to add to her incredible legacy, even if she says she has nothing to prove.
Williams’ preparation for the Joint clash is a handful of doubles matches as the world waits to see what sort of condition and form she is in for the singles court.
Fellow Australian Kim Birrell, whose first-round opponent is Russia’s Alina Korneeva, said she had mixed emotions when she saw Joint’s draw.
“I was really excited to see who Serena was playing, and I think everyone is excited,” Birrell said.
“It’s obviously tricky because Maya has a lot of eyes on her now because of who she’s playing, but it’s a really cool opportunity for her. She’s probably going to play on a big court, which she’s never done here.
“Maya obviously hasn’t had as many wins as she would like in the last couple of months, but I’ve been practising with her, and been around her, day in and day out the last few weeks, and I know she can play really well.”
Australia’s top title hope, the fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur, opens his campaign against Argentine Roman Andres Burruchaga, but could face tricky French veteran Adrian Mannarino in the second round.
De Minaur, who made the quarter-finals at the All England club two years ago, is drawn to face American fourth seed Ben Shelton in the last eight. The 27-year-old has never advanced beyond the quarter-finals at a grand slam, but Wimbledon typically represents his best opportunity.
Elsewhere, qualifier Dane Sweeny drew Bulgarian wildcard Grigor Dimitrov, who is rebuilding his career post-injury, including a pectoral muscle tear when leading eventual champion Jannik Sinner by two sets to love.
Daria Kasatkina faces Brit Mimi Xu, Tomljanovic takes on Georgia’s Mariam Bolkvadze, and Talia Gibson meets 21st-seeded Czech Marie Bouzkova on the women’s side.
In the men’s draw, Aleks Vukic plays American Jenson Brooksby, Adam Walton drew rising Croat Dino Prizmic, and Rinky Hijikata and James Duckworth begin against Dutchmen Jesper de Jong and Tallon Griekspoor, respectively.
Alexei Popyrin and Thanasi Kokkinakis both drew seeded opponents. Popyrin locks horns with No.13 seed Jiri Lehecka, while Kokkinakis is up against 10th-seeded Kazakh Alexander Bublik.
More to come
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