The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made her competitive return in the women’s doubles earlier this month, almost four years after saying she was “evolving” away from the sport.
While she showed glimpses of her former self alongside Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko at Queen’s and Karolina Muchova in Berlin, questions remained over how Williams would fare physically on her return to singles.
By returning, Williams became the second oldest player to appear in the women’s singles draw at Wimbledon – and it appeared that time had caught up with the serial winner during her hiatus from the sport.
Without a partner for back-up, Williams was exposed in the baseline rallies during the opening set, unable and unwilling to race across and meet Joint’s exceptional down-the-line winners.
However, after a rusty start, her level gradually started to improve and she battled resiliently to stick with Joint, twice recovering from a break down in the second set to force a tie-break.
And when Joint was presented with her first match point, Williams responded with a blistering forehand winner and a 120mph serve to turn her fortunes around and delight the Centre Court crowd with an extra set.
That battle came at a cost, however, and the former world number one could not keep pace with the American-born 20-year-old, who held her arms aloft after wrapping up her first-ever win at Wimbledon.
