Serena Williams to face Maya Joint on grand slam return at Wimbledon

By Eleanor Crooks, Press Association Tennis Correspondent

Serena Williams will make her return to grand slam tennis with a first-round match against Australian Maya Joint at Wimbledon.

Having launched a comeback this month in doubles at the age of 44, it was announced last weekend that Williams had taken the final wild card into the women’s singles.

The 23-time grand slam singles champion last played a singles match nearly four years ago at the US Open in what had appeared to be her farewell to the sport.

Emma Raducanu is due to open her campaign against Croatian Antonia Ruzic but fitness doubts surround the 30th seed, who could again meet Aryna Sabalenka in the third round in a repeat of last year.

Raducanu did not turn up for her scheduled practice session on Thursday having reportedly been seen wearing a protective boot the previous evening.

The British number one’s team confirmed she is managing a niggle and concerns grew when she did not appear on the practice schedule for Friday.

Raducanu is due to speak to the media at a press conference on Saturday.