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Tennis News

The stories that matter

A running digest of the significant happenings across the ATP, WTA, the four Grand Slams and the Finals — results, rule changes, retirements and off-court news. Every item links to the original article it was drawn from.

222 stories · page 18 of 23 · refreshed 16 Aug 2026

  1. PlayersWTAWimbledon30 Jun 2026

    Serena Williams Returns to Singles at Wimbledon, Falls to Maya Joint in Three Sets

    • Serena Williams, 44, played her first singles match in nearly four years, accepting a wildcard entry at Wimbledon 2026.
    • She lost to Australian Maya Joint, 20, by a score of 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-3 in a three-set contest on Centre Court.
    • Williams had warmed up by playing doubles at Queen's Club and the Berlin Open before entering the singles draw.
    • She is also competing in doubles alongside sister Venus Williams, who received a separate wildcard.
    • Williams said she accepted the wildcard because 'not every day Wimbledon holds a wildcard for someone.'
    Olympics.com
  2. Grand SlamATPWimbledon30 Jun 2026

    Ben Shelton Upset by Qualifier Otto Virtanen in Wimbledon First Round

    • No. 4 seed Ben Shelton (world No. 5) was eliminated in the first round of Wimbledon by qualifier Otto Virtanen in five sets.
    • Virtanen entered as a +303 underdog and came through qualifying with three wins to earn his spot in the main draw.
    • Shelton had reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2025, raising expectations of an even deeper run in 2026.
    • Shelton won the second and third sets but melted down late, with the match decided in a final-set tiebreak.
    • The loss made Virtanen an early Cinderella story and left the American men's top seed out on day two.
    CBS Sports
  3. PlayersATPWimbledon30 Jun 2026

    Stan Wawrinka Bids Farewell to Wimbledon After Four-Set Loss to Matteo Berrettini

    • 41-year-old Stan Wawrinka played what is expected to be his final Wimbledon match, losing to Matteo Berrettini in four sets across roughly four hours.
    • Berrettini had entered as a lucky loser after Lorenzo Musetti's withdrawal from the main draw.
    • Wawrinka received a long standing ovation from the No. 1 Court crowd after the match ended.
    • The three-time Grand Slam champion has had a lengthy career resurgence in his 40s, but has been playing a reduced schedule.
    • The emotional farewell underlined a generational transition at the grass-court major, with multiple veterans departing in the same fortnight.
    ATP Tour
  4. Grand SlamATPWimbledon30 Jun 2026

    Alexander Zverev Enters Wimbledon as Reigning French Open Champion

    • Alexander Zverev arrives at Wimbledon 2026 as the No. 2 seed and reigning French Open champion, having won his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.
    • It is Zverev's first Wimbledon appearance as a major champion, though he has historically struggled on grass to convert his clay-court dominance.
    • With Carlos Alcaraz absent, Zverev is seen as a primary challenger to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner for the title.
    • French Open runner-up Mirra Andreeva is competing on the WTA side having won her first major title at Roland Garros 2026.
    • The 2026 French Open result marked a significant shift in the Grand Slam landscape heading into the grass-court season.
    Sky Sports
  5. PlayersWimbledon30 Jun 2026

    British Wimbledon Hopes Hit Hard: Norrie Beaten, Draper and Raducanu Withdraw

    • British No. 1 Cameron Norrie lost an agonising five-set first-round match to American qualifier Michael Zheng, who came through qualifying the previous week.
    • Jack Draper withdrew on opening day with a recurrence of the left arm bone injury that ended his 2025 season, calling it 'definitely the absolute worst' painful moment of the past 12 months.
    • Emma Raducanu had already withdrawn on the eve of the tournament with a lower leg stress fracture, compounding Britain's misfortune.
    • Harriet Dart was promoted to Court 1 to fill Raducanu's spot but lost to Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
    • Katie Swan became the first British player to win a singles match at Wimbledon 2026, defeating Irina-Camelia Begu, with Jacob Fearnley and Arthur Fery also advancing.
    ESPN
  6. PlayersWTAWimbledon30 Jun 2026

    Serena Williams loses Wimbledon singles comeback match to Maya Joint, suffers knee injury

    • 44-year-old Serena Williams lost 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 to world No. 87 Maya Joint on Centre Court — her first singles match since the 2022 US Open.
    • Williams won the second-set tiebreak and led 2-1 in the third before Joint won five of the last six games.
    • She sustained a right knee injury during the match, putting her planned doubles appearance with sister Venus in doubt.
    • Joint's victory snapped an 11-match losing streak on tour and was her first win of the grass-court season.
    • Serena's comeback fuelled record Wimbledon viewership for ESPN, and her former coach Mouratoglou said the performance showed 'only good news for the future'.
    Yahoo Sports
  7. PlayersWTAWimbledon30 Jun 2026

    Serena Williams Returns to Wimbledon Singles After Nearly Four-Year Absence

    • Serena Williams, 44, made her singles comeback on Centre Court on June 30, losing to Maya Joint 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3.
    • It was her first singles match since her retirement at the 2022 US Open — a gap of nearly four years.
    • Williams received a singles and doubles wildcard from the All England Club for the tournament.
    • Her return drove record Wimbledon viewership for ESPN.
    • She also played doubles alongside sister Venus Williams; a knee injury during the singles match threatened their doubles campaign.
    Olympics.com
  8. Grand SlamWTAWimbledon30 Jun 2026

    Alexandra Eala Inspires Philippines with Run to Wimbledon Round of 16

    • Filipino wildcard Alex Eala defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek in the second round before reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon.
    • Her run ended with a 4-6, 6-4, 3-6 loss to 13th-seeded Jasmine Paolini on Day 8, with Roger Federer watching from the stands.
    • Eala was the first Filipino player to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon, generating enormous national pride in the Philippines.
    • She had beaten Swiatek — a former Wimbledon champion — in straight sets in the second round, one of the biggest upsets of the tournament's first week.
    • Paolini advanced to the quarterfinals and will face Elise Mertens for a spot in the last four.
    WTA
  9. Grand SlamATPWimbledon29 Jun 2026

    Wimbledon 2026 Opens: Sinner Survives Five-Set Scare, Rublev Upset on Day One

    • Defending champion Jannik Sinner needed five sets to beat Miomir Kecmanovic in his Centre Court opener.
    • Sinner slipped and fell at 2-2 in the third set but avoided serious injury, admitting he felt tight on grass.
    • Seventh seed Andrey Rublev became the tournament's highest-profile first-round casualty, losing in five sets to Roman Safiullin.
    • Novak Djokovic also struggled in his opener, needing four sets to defeat Yibing Wu.
    • Carlos Alcaraz (wrist) and both British hopes Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu were absent through injury before a ball was struck.
    Perfect Tennis
  10. Rules & TechWimbledon29 Jun 2026

    Wimbledon Introduces Video Review Technology for the First Time in Its History

    • For the first time in Wimbledon's 139-year history, players can request video reviews of disputed incidents such as double bounces or hindrance calls.
    • The system operates separately from electronic line calling — players cannot use it to challenge ELC line decisions.
    • Unlike the old Hawk-Eye challenge system, there is no limit on the number of reviews a player can request and no penalty for an incorrect challenge.
    • Video review is available on Centre Court and Court One throughout the Championships, plus four other show courts during singles matches.
    • The chair umpire — not a separate official — watches the replay and makes the final determination.
    Altitudes Magazine
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