Serena Williams' first-round loss in Wimbledon return delivers record ratings for ESPN

It appears Serena Williams is still a big draw.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion drew an average of 1.8 million fans during her first-round match at Wimbledon, her first singles match since 2022, the network announced Thursday. The broadcast reportedly peaked at 2.1 million viewers.

Per ESPN, it was the network’s largest Day 2 ratings ever and it’s most-watched first round ever at Wimbledon.

It appears ESPN will get no further ratings help from the 44-year-old Williams, though.

The seven-time Wimbledon champ fell to the 20-year-old Maya Joint in three sets, showcasing the serve and competitive fire that helped her earn all-time great status but proving too inconsistent with her powerful groundstrokes to keep pace with a player closer in age to her 2-year-old daughter than her.

Williams was also slated to play doubles with her sister Venus, which would have likely been another ratings bonanza, but a knee injury incurred in her singles match has put that appearance in doubt.

Choosing Wimbledon of all tournaments for her first singles match in four years was a bold choice for Williams. She was hardly considered one of the favorites, but she still presented a major unknown in a wide-open field and was at least competitive with Joint, who went on to fall to No. 29 seed Alexandra Eala in three sets in the second round.

ESPN clearly isn’t complaining about that choice, though.