Serena Williams falls on Wimbledon return as upsets shake draw
Serena Williams' return to Wimbledon singles ended at the first hurdle, as the Championships delivered early drama and a string of upsets in the opening rounds.
Playing her first singles match in four years, the former world number one was beaten in three sets by Maya Joint. Williams said she had relished the occasion, describing the atmosphere as amazing, even as the result underlined the challenge of returning to the top level.
The men's draw also produced a shock, with top American seed Ben Shelton knocked out in the opening round by Otto Virtanen. Elsewhere, Matteo Berrettini ended veteran Stan Wawrinka's Wimbledon career in a gripping four-hour contest.
As the tournament moved into its second round, the biggest names took centre stage. Men's number one Jannik Sinner and women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka were in action, alongside the veteran Novak Djokovic, while Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round.
The early results set the stage for a compelling fortnight on the grass, with seeds under pressure and a new generation of players looking to make their mark at tennis's most famous major.
