BBC pundit makes Serena Williams claim after Wimbledon defeat

Serena Williams during her Wimbledon comeback defeat (Picture: Getty)

Annabel Croft says Serena Williams produced an ‘extraordinary’ level of tennis despite her first-round defeat at Wimbledon.

The 44-year-old mother-of-two was handed a wildcard for the women’s singles event after making a shock return to professional tennis earlier in the month.

The return of Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, led to much excitement around SW19 but her return was short-lived as she lost to world number 87 Maya Joint in the first round.

Williams showed some promising early signs before Australia’s Joint, who has endured a miserable 2026 to date, took control of the opening set.

Joint came into Wimbledon on the back of a 11-match losing run but looked to have got the better of Williams with another early break in the second set.

But the veteran used the support of the Wimbledon crowd to fight back, breaking back twice and then coping with the pressure of a tie-break to level the match.

Williams had a break point early in the deciding set but failed to convert and quickly began to fade as age and a lack of match practice caught up with the tennic icon.

Serena Williams back on Wimbledon’s Centre Court (Picture: Reuters)

Joint has never reached the third round of a Grand Slam but is one win away from doing so here at Wimbledon after finally ending Williams’ resistance and serving out for a 6-3 6-7 6-3 victory.

Wimbledon fans have not seen the last of Williams, however, as she will team up with her older sister Venus in the women’s doubles event.

There was a subdued atmosphere on Centre Court as fans excited to see Williams’ return watched the American legend lose to struggling Joint.

Maya Joint beat tennis icon Serena Williams (Picture: Getty)

But former British number one Croft was still impressed by Williams’ level, insisting she played some ‘jaw-dropping’ tennis given it was her first singles match in over four years.

‘For somebody who hasn’t played singles in four years I think it’s extraordinary the level she has already brought,’ Croft said on BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘It is jaw-dropping.

‘I thought Maya Joint started to win the battle psychologically. Williams has played so well and there are a lot of players she would have beaten with this level – but her opponent was just inspired today.

Centre Court rises for @serenawilliams 🫶#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/O3XRkjQ4cv

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2026

‘I feel like Joint has been so well prepared mentally for this match. She looked so focussed, unflustered and so clear of the tactics.’

As Williams began to fall to a deflating defeat, fellow American tennis legend John McEnroe said on BBC One: ‘There is rather stunned silence here in not only the commentary booth but also in the crowd.

‘There was that easy backhand to go up 3-1 which was missed, but we all remembered it is Serena Williams. But then you remember she is 44 years old and it has been two hours and 15 minutes of play.

Williams won 23 Grand Slam titles (Picture: Getty)

‘It is hard to digest and comprehend what’s happening because it does look like all of a sudden her energy levels have dropped completely.’

Two-time Grand Slam champion Tracy Austin, meanwhile, said it was ‘incredible’ to see Williams back out on the court but praised the victorious Joint.

‘You have to give Maya Joint all sorts of credit, coming in on such a great losing streak and beating the greatest of all-time on Centre Court,’ Austin said.

Joint celebrates her cagey first-round win (Picture: Getty)

‘She has never played on this court either and she had a match point in the second set – but she was able to regroup in the third set.

‘Serena Williams was incredible still. She won seven majors before Maya Joint was even born, so it was incredible of her to put herself out there. We just have to celebrate Joint right now.’

Joint, meanwhile, said she ‘didn’t get much sleep’ ahead of not only her Centre Court debut but a blockbuster clash with one of the greatest players of all time.

Williams leaves Centre Court for likely the last time (Picture: Getty)

‘I really don’t know what to say right now. I don’t know what just happened, to be honest,’ she said in her on-court interview.

‘I didn’t get much sleep last night, I was up until 2am just thinking about it. Walking out, I forgot the warm-up, I don’t know what happened.

‘My legs weren’t moving. I really don’t know how I got a pretty good start in the match. Serena has so much aura, she is such a legend.

‘This court has had so many huge names that have played in it. I have been dreaming about this since I was a little kid so this is pretty crazy.

‘I think the toughest part was just trying to come out on court and play a match against her. The start was nerve-wracking.

‘Trying to finish out the match as well, I think she definitely lifted her level. She played some great tennis there.’

Joint, who won a grass-court tournament at Eastbourne in 2025, faces Filipino star Alexandra Eala in the second round of Wimbledon.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news onFacebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.

Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source