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Serena Williams draws 20-year-old Maya Joint in first Wimbledon singles match in 4 years
By KEN MAGUIRE, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports
· June 26, 2026
· 1 min read
LONDON (AP) — Serena Williams will face an opponent less than half her age when she plays 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round at Wimbledon for her first singles match in nearly four years. The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, who is 44, accepted a wild-card entry to the grass-court Gr...
Key takeaway The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, who is 44, accepted a wild-card entry to the grass-court Grand Slam, where she’ll also [...
Why this matters in The McAllen
In the Rio Grande Valley, where tennis is a popular recreational activity, Serena Williams' return to Wimbledon singles action is likely to generate interest among local tennis enthusiasts. The McAllen community, with its strong focus on youth sports and development, may be particularly intrigued by the age disparity between Williams and her opponent, 20-year-old Maya Joint. As Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, takes to the court at 44, her experience and skill will be put to the test against a much younger adversary. This matchup may inspire local young tennis players, who can learn from Williams' perseverance and dedication to the sport, even after a nearly four-year hiatus from singles competition. The Valley's tennis community will be watching to see how Williams fares in this highly anticipated first-round match.
About this story
Original reporting by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . The McAllen surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? LONDON (AP) — Serena Williams will face an opponent less than half her age when she plays 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round at Wimbledon for her first singles match in nearly four years. The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, who is 44, accepted a wild-card entry to the grass-court Gr...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports and curated for The McAllen readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by KEN MAGUIRE, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports. To learn more about how The McAllen selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The McAllen, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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