Wimbledon 2026 LIVE: Serena Williams returns as Iga Swiatek in trouble against Taylor Townsend

Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon and makes a stunning return to singles action at the age of 44 after a nightmare day for British players at the Championships.

Williams will play Australia’s Maya Joint in her first singles match since the 2022 US Open, having only returned to the sport earlier this month and playing two doubles matches.

The 23-time grand slam champion and mother of two admitted she will be “nervous” as she makes her long-awaited return, and said she will have “no expectations” when she plays the world No 53.

Elsewhere, wildcard Katie Swan sealed the first win for a British player of this year’s Championships after a devastating opening day on Monday. Jack Draper followed Emma Raducanu in withdrawing due to injury, before Cameron Norrie was one of 10 British players to lose in round one.

Follow latest scores and updates from Wimbledon, below:

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Wimbledon LIVE: Latest tennis scores and updates

• Serena Williams, 44, returns to singles action at Wimbledon against Maya Joint
• Williams has not played a singles match in four years but accepted wildcard
• Defending champion Iga Swiatek in trouble against Taylor Townsend
• Katie Swan notches first British win after 10 losses on nightmare day one
• Confirmed order of play and day two schedule at Wimbledon

SECOND SET! Iga Swiatek in trouble against Taylor Townsend

14:48 , Jamie Braidwood

There’s the set for Taylor Townsend! The American, and No 1 in doubles, has switched up her approach in the second and her aggressive play has thrown a spanner in Iga Swiatek’s game. The defending champion is in some danger here as we head into the decider.

Swiatek’s parents are in the Royal Box but this is turning into an uncomfortable watch...

Oh dear! Iga Swiatek is unravelling!

14:31 , Jamie Braidwood

What is happening on Centre Court?! Iga Swiatek made just four errors in the first set, but has made 10 in the second as she trails Taylor Townsend 4-0. This sort of unravelling has been seen before some Swiatek, the defending champion. This is turning into a test.

The drama in Arthur Fery v Damir Dzumhur continues

14:25 , Jamie Braidwood

Arthur Fery has taken a medical timeout because he’s got a nose bleed. A trainer is out on court giving him a swab, after he stuffed some tissue up his nose. That may have Damir Dzumhur some time to cool down. From leading 6-2 2-0, he has lost eight games in a row to and the score is now 3-6 6-2 2-0 to Fery.

Naomi Osaka in Taylor Townsend's box for Iga Swiatek match

14:22 , Jamie Braidwood

Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka is sitting in Taylor Townsend's box for her match against Iga Swiatek on Centre Court. The pair went on holiday together at the end of last season, and their close friendship continuing.

Townsend has started the second set well, too, breaking Swiatek.

Arthur Fery levels against steamy Damir Dzumhur

14:12 , Jamie Braidwood

Arthur Fery levels the match against Damir Dzumhur, who is losing his temper at umpire Greg Allensworth and has called the supervisor to complain about his officiating.

That’s a good sign for wildcard Fery, who lost the opening set 6-3 but has won the second 6-2 against the Bosnian.

Iga Swiatek in control

14:06 , Flo Clifford

After a wobble on serve, when she fought back from 15-40 down and through multiple deuces to hold for 1-1, defending champion Iga Swiatek is in cruise control against Taylor Townsend.

She wins the opening set 6-1 on Centre Court.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek in action

13:43 , Flo Clifford

As is tradition, defending champion Iga Swiatek is beginning her campaign and opening play on Centre Court for the day.

She plays American Taylor Townsend.

Katie Swan almost quit tennis — she’s now Britain’s first Wimbledon winner

13:35 , Jamie Braidwood

After battling back from the brink of quitting tennis, Katie Swan became Britain’s unlikely first winner of this year’s Wimbledon after beating Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu to reach the second round.

After converting her fifth match point, the 27-year-old Swan fell to her knees and held her head in her hands while Court 16 erupted into cheers. After Katie Boulter added to the 10 British defeats on Monday, Swan, the world No 196, is the first player through to the second round.

Katie Swan almost quit tennis — she’s now Britain’s first Wimbledon winner

Around the grounds

13:28 , Flo Clifford

Sixth seed Taylor Fritz leads lucky loser Dusan Lajovic - who took Jack Draper’s spot in the draw after his withdrawal - 3-2 over on Court No 1.

Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen has taken the first set 6-4 off Ben Shelton, but the fourth seed is fighting back and leads 3-0 in the second.

And Jasmine Paolini has recovered from her first-set bagelling to loevel proceedings against qualifier Robin Montgomery; the Italian leads 6-5 in the decider.

Why Wimbledon is falling behind in the grand slam arms race

13:22 , Jamie Braidwood

The All England Club continues to face legal hurdles in its bid to expand its grounds to Wimbledon Park, while the other major events flaunt their capacity to turn tournaments into ‘three-week’ events

Why Wimbledon is falling behind in the grand slam arms race

How Amanda Anisimova’s recovery from Wimbledon final catastrophe can push her to new heights

12:53 , Flo Clifford

A year on from a final to forget, Amanda Anisimova returns to the All England Club. The 24-year-old could be forgiven for having mixed feelings about walking back through the gates at Wimbledon, having experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows imaginable on its hallowed turf.

Her march through the draw at last year’s tournament to her first major final was hugely impressive. The final itself, a 6-0 6-0 drubbing by Iga Swiatek, the first of that scoreline at Wimbledon in over a century, was neatly summed up by her then coach as “the worst off day we have ever experienced”.

That tragic, terrible day at the office was soon forgotten, however. Six weeks later, the American avenged it by defeating Swiatek at the US Open and made it back to a grand slam final.

How Amanda Anisimova’s recovery from Wimbledon calamity can push her to new heights

Around the grounds

12:46 , Flo Clifford

Elsewhere, last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova beat Lina Gjorcheska 6-3 6-2 in a little over an hour; Maria Sakkari has seen off 24th seed Clara Tauson 6-3 6-3, and another former finalist, Karolina Pliskova, has beaten fellow Czech Tereza Valentova 6-3 6-4.

Britain’s Harry Wendelken has dropped the second set against Valentin Royer after winning the first and it’s on serve at 1-1 in the third.

Wimbledon Brit tracker: Follow the progress of the 21 players in the singles draws

12:40 , Flo Clifford

British players suffered a wipeout on an awful first day at Wimbledon, with all 10 home players who completed their matches on Monday beaten to add to Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu pulling out injured.

Katie Boulter has already joined their number but there are eight more Brits in action on day two.

Wimbledon Brit tracker: Follow the progress of the 21 players in the singles draws

Katie Swan wins on Wimbledon return

12:32 , Flo Clifford

In much happier news, Katie Swan, returning to Wimbledon after three years away and a career ravaged by injuries, has notched the first win for a British player of this Championships!

The 27-year-old won 6-4 6-4 over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu and was the picture of joy as she celebrated with her team.

Katie Boulter out in first round

12:24 , Flo Clifford

An early double fault for Tyra Grant indicates there are some nerves for the teenager - but she recovers in a grinding rally, with Boulter producing another error, and then an ace down the T brings up match point!

She only needs the one as Boulter can’t keep a low ball in play. Grant, the world No 172 and a qualifier, earns her first main draw win at a grand slam 6-4 6-2, having never won a pro match on grass before this tournament!

What time is Serena Williams playing at Wimbledon today?

12:17 , Flo Clifford

Serena Williams will play her first-round match against Maya Joint, the world No 53, on Tuesday 30 July. It will be the final match of the day on Centre Court, following the defending champion Iga Swiatek and French Open champion Alexander Zverev’s opener against Alexander Blockx.

Swiatek will open play at 1:30pm and there will then be a best-of-five set match between Blockx and Zverev. Williams could be therefore be in action on Tuesday evening, at around 6pm BST (1pm ET).

‘It stinks’: Ten Brits fall on nightmare opening day of Wimbledon

12:12 , Flo Clifford

On Sunday afternoon, 21 British players were into the main draw of the Wimbledon men’s and women’s singles. By sunset on Monday, only nine remained. Despite bright sunshine and balmy temperatures in SW19 what seemed an idyllic start to the tournament rapidly morphed into a nightmare, a truly miserable Monday, as 10 Brits fell on the opening day - the worst return for the home nation this century.

‘It stinks’: Ten Brits fall on nightmare opening day of Wimbledon

Katie Boulter on brink of exit

12:08 , Flo Clifford

Tyra Grant really looks like she’s enjoying herself out on Court 3. She flashes a wry smile as if to say ‘fair play’ as Boulter fizzes a return right onto the line, and is looking very composed, fist pumping to her team.

She breaks to 30 and now will serve for a place in the second round!

Wendelken and Swan win first set

12:06 , Flo Clifford

In better news, wildcards Harry Wendelken and Katie Swan - the latter playing in her first Wimbledon in three years - have both claimed the first set in their opening matches, against Valentin Royer and Irina-Camelia Begu respectively.

202nd-ranked Wendelken is acquitting himself well against an opponent 127 places above him in the standings.

Boulter trails

11:59 , Flo Clifford

Boulter’s serve has gone missing at the wrong time and two double faults in the same game followed by a forehand unforced error help Grant to break for a 2-1 lead in this second set.

The 18-year-old has been serving really well, and not given the Brit an inch on her own service games.

Now she plays a nice reflex backhand volley at the net which just dies on the grass, and Boulter shakes her head in resignation. She’s being outplayed all over the court at the moment.

Grant holds, and court 3 has gone very quiet indeed.

Wimbledon prize money: How much will players earn round by round?

11:52 , Flo Clifford

Record prize money is on offer at this year’s Wimbledon, with the eventual winners of the men’s and women’s singles titles each receiving £3.6m.

Prize money was a contentious subject ahead of the 2026 Championships, leading Wimbledon to announce its biggest ever single-year uplift in an attempt to appease unhappy players.

The All England Club revealed a 20 per cent increase, with the total prize pot rising to £64.2m from last year’s £53.5m. Prize money for qualifying also increased to £6.2m.

The world’s leading players welcomed the prize money announcement as “genuine and significant step forward”, but it has not stopped protests from the players during the tournament.

The players have long argued that they should be receiving a greater percentage of the overall revenues generated by the grand slams.

Wimbledon chair Debbie Jevans said, however, that it made “no sense” to focus on prize money as a ratio of tournament earnings.

Wimbledon 2026 prize money: How much will players earn round by round?

Katie Boulter loses first set

11:46 , Flo Clifford

A double fault as she serves for the set doesn’t trouble Tyra Grant too much; the 18-year-old looks very composed and she holds without too much trouble. She leads 6-4 and home favourite Katie Boulter has a bit of a mountain to climb.

Elsewhere, Amanda Anisimova has clinched the first set 6-3 against Lina Gjorcheska, while 2024 runner-up and 13th seed Jasmine Paolini has dropped the first 6-0 to Robin Montgomery of the USA.

Britain’s Harry Wendelken leads Valentin Royer 5-3.

Katie Boulter trails in first set

11:36 , Flo Clifford

On Court 3, Katie Boulter gets a much-needed hold to love, to put the pressure back on qualifier Tyra Grant.

The Italian leads 5-4 and will now serve for the set.

Day two updates

11:29 , Flo Clifford

Katie Boulter is an early break of serve down to Italian youngster Tyra Grant, who leads the first set 4-3.

Last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova leads Lina Gjorcheska 4-1, former Australian Open champion Madison Keys is 3-2 up on compatriot Kayla Day, and British wildcard Harry Wendelken leads Valentin Royer 3-2.

Brits to watch on day two

11:17 , Flo Clifford

After yesterday’s horror show, when a record 10 Brits lost on the opening day - the worst return since records began in 2000 - we’re still searching for our first British winner of this year’s Championships.

Nine Brits play on day two: Katie Boulter opens play on Court 3 against Italian qualifier Tyra Grant, with wildcard Toby Samuel playing French Open semi-finalist and 15th seed Jakub Mensik in the third match on the same court.

On Court 18, wildcard Jack Pinnington Jones resumes his match against 28th seed Brandon Nakashima, which was postponed due to bad light yesterday evening with the Brit two sets down.

19th seed Karen Khachanov then plays Billy Harris, another British qualifier, on the same court.

Wildcards Harry Wendelken and Jacob Fearnley play Valentin Royer of France and the USA’s Alex Michelsen on courts 14 and 15 respectively, with Court 16 serving up a Brit-fest as wildcards Katie Swan, Arthur Fery and direct entrant Jan Choinski play Irina-Camelia Begu, Damir Dzumhur, and Vit Kopriva back-to-back.

Wimbledon order of play

11:10 , Flo Clifford

🏟️ No.3 Court

11:00AM Start

1. Katie Boulter (GBR) v Tyra Caterina Grant (ITA)
2. Alex de Minaur (AUS) [5] v Roman Andres Burruchaga (ARG)
3. Jakub Mensik (CZE) [15] v Toby Samuel (GBR)
4. Not Before 5:00pm: Nadia Podoroska (ARG) v Marta Kostyuk (UKR) [12]

Wimbledon order of play

11:05 , Flo Clifford

🏟️ No.2 Court

11:00AM Start

1. Amanda Anisimova (USA) [6] v Lina Gjorcheska (MKD)
2. Otto Virtanen (FIN) v Ben Shelton (USA) [4]
3. Elina Svitolina (UKR) [8] v Daria Snigur (UKR)
4. Mariano Navone (ARG) v Flavio Cobolli (ITA) [9]

Wimbledon order of play

10:59 , Flo Clifford

🏟️ No.1 Court

1:00PM Start

1. Taylor Fritz (USA) [6] v Dusan Lajovic (SRB)
2. Lois Boisson (FRA) v Elena Rybakina (KAZ) [2]
3. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) v Matteo Berrettini (ITA)

Wimbledon order of play

10:56 , Flo Clifford

Day 2- Tuesday 30 June

🏟️ Centre Court

1:30PM Start

1. Taylor Townsend (USA) v Iga Swiatek (POL) [3]
2. Alexander Blockx (BEL) v Alexander Zverev (GER) [2]
3. Serena Williams (USA) v Maya Joint (AUS)

What's in store for day two?

10:52 , Flo Clifford

Serena Williams headlines the Wimbledon order of play on day two of the Championships as the 23-time grand slam champion makes her return to singles after four years away.

Williams, 44, has not played a singles match since the 2022 US Open but will take her comeback to the next level when the wild card steps onto Centre Court to play Australia’s Maya Joint.

After Jack Draper's withdrawal from Wimbledon due to a relapse of his arm injury, denying a first-round blockbuster against Taylor Fritz, British players will be out to claim a first win of the Championships after yesterday’s wipeout.

Defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek will open play on Centre Court, with Amanda Anisimova, Ben Shelton and French Open champion Alexander Zverev the other stars in first-round action on day two.

Welcome

10:47 , Flo Clifford

Hello and welcome to day two of Wimbledon!

There’s an action-packed day in store, with defending champion Iga Swiatek opening play on Centre Court and plenty of Brits in action. But all eyes will be on Centre later this afternoon as a certain Serena Williams makes her comeback to singles after four years away. Don’t go anywhere!