Serena Williams’ Retirement: A Look Back at Her Final Wimbledon Appearances

Serena Williams officially retired from professional tennis in 2022, marking the end of a career that included 23 Grand Slam singles titles. While she made a highly publicized return to the All England Club in 2022, that appearance served as her final competitive outing at Wimbledon. Reports regarding a “singles comeback” at the tournament are inaccurate; the icon transitioned away from the sport following the 2022 US Open.

The 2022 Wimbledon Return

In June 2022, Serena Williams accepted a wildcard entry into the Wimbledon women’s singles draw, ending a year-long absence from the sport. According to the All England Lawn Tennis Club, the decision followed her recovery from a hamstring injury sustained during the previous year’s tournament. Williams entered the 2022 event ranked outside the top 1,000, necessitated by her inactivity, making the wildcard essential for her participation in the main draw.

Why the 2022 Campaign Ended Early

Williams’ final Wimbledon singles run concluded in the first round. She was defeated by France’s Harmony Tan in a three-set match that lasted over three hours. Following that loss, Williams did not compete in the doubles draw. While initial reports and speculation had linked her to a potential partnership with her sister Venus Williams, those plans did not materialize at the 2022 tournament. The loss to Tan remains her final match on the grass courts of SW19.

Retirement and Legacy

Following her Wimbledon appearance, Williams competed at the 2022 US Open, which she confirmed would be her final tournament. In an essay for Vogue, she described the process of “evolving away” from tennis to focus on her family and her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures. Her career concluded with:

• 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in the Open Era.
• 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, all won alongside Venus Williams.
• Four Olympic gold medals.
• A total of 319 weeks ranked as the world number one by the WTA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Serena Williams planning a return to professional tennis?

No. Serena Williams has consistently stated since her 2022 retirement that she has no intentions of returning to professional competition. She has since focused on her post-tennis career and family life.

What was Serena Williams’ final match?

Her final professional match occurred on September 2, 2022, at the US Open. She lost to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round of the tournament.

Did Serena and Venus Williams play doubles at their final Wimbledon?

No. Despite widespread speculation and reports linking them to a wildcard entry, the sisters did not compete together at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.