Serena Williams recently faced scathing criticism from TV host Rob Finnerty, who condemned her behaviour following her first-round loss at the Wimbledon Championships. The tournament began on June 29 and will conclude on July 12, 2026.
Williams played her first singles match since returning from a nearly four-year break on Monday, when she faced Maya Joint in the opening round. However, her comeback ended in disappointment as the Australian secured a 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-3 victory. Following this loss, the American chose to skip the post-match press conference.
This early exit and her decision to skip media duties sparked widespread debate online. Amid the criticism, the TV host, Finnerty, who recently appeared on The Megyn Kelly Show, condemned her attitude towards her opponent. He criticised her seemingly weak handshake with Joint after the match and argued that, given her status as a leader and one of the most experienced players, she should have handled the defeat more graciously and shown greater encouragement toward her opponent.
“She plays somebody who has got a 3-13 record. I think is ranked something like 80th in the world, and then there’s that little mealy weak handshake right there that drives me crazy. You are a leader. You are a legend in your sport. Give this young lady a hug. I don’t know who she is. All right, give her a hug. She just beat somebody she grew up idolising, watching, and someone she probably never, she would play, let alone at Wimbledon. And what does she do? She gives you this little, this little wet, flaccid clam thing after the match because you just lost,” said Finnerty.
He added:
“You’ve got 39 Grand Slam wins, 23 singles wins. You’re the greatest of all time. Give this girl a proper handshake and a hug, and, and congratulate her, because this is a huge moment for tennis, and it’s a huge moment in her life. She handled it like a total loser. She handled it like a total loser, and it’s a shame. It’s a shame and it’s bad for the sport.”
Serena Williams opened up about her return to the Wimbledon Championships
Before competing in the opening round of the Wimbledon Championships, Serena Williams spoke with the BBC’s Clare Balding about her return to the All England Club. Describing it as an ‘easy retransition’, the American admitted that she never expected to be back competing at Wimbledon. She also reflected on what success means to her at this stage of her career, saying:
“It’s been a very easy retransition. I’m back in the house that I stayed in several years. It’s nothing too new, and at the same time it’s everything new. Change is good. Success for me is just walking out there. I never expected to be here. Success is enjoying myself and sticking to my game plan that my coach gives me, being disciplined – and that’s what I’m trying to do,” said Serena Williams.
After the early exit at the singles draw, Serena Williams is now slated to compete in the doubles event alongside her sister, Venus Williams. They will play against Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio in the opening round on July 3, 2026.
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