Serena Williams trolled for cancelling press conference after Wimbledon heartbreak

Serena Williams came under fire on social media after cancelling her post-match press conference following a heartbreaking first-round exit at The Championships, Wimbledon on Tuesday.

In Short

• Serena Williams lost her first-round match at Wimbledon after four years
• She skipped a post-match press conference, sparking social media backlash
• Williams to play doubles with Venus; Maya Joint advances to round two

Serena Williams came under fire on social media after cancelling her post-match press conference following her emotional first-round exit at the Wimbledon Championships on Tuesday.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion returned to Grand Slam singles for the first time in nearly four years, but her comeback ended in a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 defeat to 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint on Centre Court. While fans applauded Williams' spirited display against an opponent 24 years younger, many were left surprised after she skipped her scheduled media interaction.

Williams had looked on course to produce a memorable comeback after saving a match point in the second-set tie-break to level the contest. She also earned an early break in the deciding set before Joint recovered to win five of the final six games and seal the biggest victory of her career in two hours and 22 minutes.

Rather than speaking to reporters, Williams issued a brief statement through tournament organisers, expressing her gratitude for getting another opportunity to compete at the All England Club.

"It was really great to be back at Wimbledon. I never expected to be here. The atmosphere was amazing. Walking out was amazing. I definitely relished it and missed it and enjoyed the moment more than anything."

As news of Serena Williams' decision to skip her post-match press conference spread, many fans voiced their disappointment on social media. Among those critical of the move was Spanish journalist Jos Morón, who argued that speaking to the media is an essential responsibility for professional tennis players.

Writing on X, Morón said: "Serena Williams won't give press on her return to tennis four years later. Speaking in front of journalists might not be the most fun thing in the world, but it's a good way to reach people and promote this tournament amid a World Cup, with how damn tough it's been.

"Tennis players also need to realize that this is part of their job too. Tennis is where it is thanks to the people who watch us. If nobody talked and stories got made up, nobody would get hooked on this. For a legend like Serena not to speak today, on a day like this, is a huge shame."

Despite her first-round singles defeat, Williams is still set to feature at Wimbledon in the women's doubles event alongside her sister, Venus Williams.

Meanwhile, Maya Joint struggled to hide her delight after producing one of the biggest upsets of the opening round. The 20-year-old Australian revealed she barely slept the night before the match because of nerves, but was thrilled to have shared the court with one of the sport's greatest icons.

"I forgot the warm-up. I don't know what happened. My legs weren't moving. I don't know how I got a pretty good start in the match. She has such an aura. She's such a legend. This court has so many huge names that have played on it. I've been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid. This is pretty crazy," Joint said.

Joint will next face Alexandra Eala in the second round of The Championships, Wimbledon on Thursday.

- Ends