Serena Williams Returns to Wimbledon, Chases Record Prize Money
**Serena Williams returned to Wimbledon on 24 Jun 2026**, entering both doubles with sister Venus and singles against Australia’s Maya Joint, eyeing a 24th major title and a $4.8 million winner’s check.
Two months after confirming in a 2022 Vogue essay that she was stepping away from tennis, Williams announced in October 2025 that she was not retired. She invited fans to her home court, then followed through by playing WTA events in London and Berlin in May 2026. The Wimbledon entry marks her first Grand Slam singles appearance since the 2023 U.S. Open, where she played three matches before stepping back.
If she captures the Wimbledon title, Williams would tie Margaret Court’s all‑time record of 24 Grand Slam singles crowns and add a $4.8 million winner’s purse to her $94.8 million career earnings. Even without the title, the potential payout underscores her dominance on the prize‑money leaderboard-no one is close. Aryna Sabalenka sits second with roughly half of Williams’s total, and Venus Williams remains far behind.
Forbes estimates Williams earned $50 million in the last 12 months, pushing her lifetime earnings to about $620 million and her net worth to $400 million. That makes her the richest female athlete whose fortune stems primarily from sport. Her sponsorship roster still includes four legacy partners-Audemars Piguet, Lincoln, Nike and Wilson-plus six newer deals, keeping her brand relevance high despite the hiatus.
In doubles, she teams with Venus Williams, a seven‑time Grand Slam champion, to challenge the field on Centre Court. In singles, she meets unseeded 20‑year‑old Maya Joint, ranked 53rd worldwide. Joint’s recent form includes a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open, making the matchup a test of experience versus rising talent.
Williams hinted at a possible mixed‑doubles appearance later in the summer and has not ruled out a full‑time return. Her family commitments remain a priority-she welcomed a second child in 2023-but she continues to balance motherhood with a thriving business empire. The next few weeks will reveal whether the 44‑year‑old can convert her brief return into another historic chapter.