Wimbledon’s queen returns and a bona fide blockbuster

Jamie Braidwood and Flo Clifford mark your card for the pick of the first-round matches and the Brits involved in the draw

- Jamie Braidwood and Flo Clifford

Serena Williams vs Maya Joint

Serena Williams’s first-round match at Wimbledon was also going to be one to watch, whoever the 44-year-old was drawn next to ahead of her first singles match in four years. Williams could have played anyone in the women’s draw, so in Australia’s Maya Joint, the American has perhaps landed a forgiving opening opponent. We should remember, of course, that Williams lost her last match at Wimbledon to the virtually unknown Harmony Tan, then ranked 115th in the world. Even with two matches in doubles under her belt, there is going to be a lot of rust - and unknowns - when Williams steps back onto Centre Court. Given the unprecedented nature of her comeback, Williams will still be a huge underdog against Joint, the world No 53.

That’s not to say it’s not a winnable match for Williams, or a daunting prospect for the 20-year-old Joint. After all, tennis history will tower over the Australian when the players step onto court. Williams is the greatest women’s player of all time, with 23 grand slam titles and seven Wimbledon crowns. Joint may have won a WTA title on grass at Eastbourne, but she has only progressed past the first round of a grand slam twice. It’s going to be the biggest match of Joint’s career by some distance.

That can play into Williams’s hands. Everything about this match will be compelling, from the pizazz of the Williams return to the fact that there will be a 24-year age gap between the players.

Jack Draper vs Taylor Fritz

Everything about this screams blockbuster. It looks like it could be a grand slam semifinal between two players who have been ranked inside the world’s top five as recently as last year, but it’s taking place in the first round.