India, July 1 -- Anticipation is building at Wimbledon for Serena Williams' first singles match in nearly four years.

The 44-year-old Williams is scheduled to play an opponent less than half her age, 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia, in the third match Tuesday on Centre Court - the patch of grass where the American standout won seven of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles.

"I think everyone's feeling the same way: Cannot wait to be watching Serena back on Centre Court again," Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Club, said Monday. Wimbledon organisers took the unusual step of holding up an eighth and final wild card spot for Williams until she accepted the invitation at almost the last possible moment, the weekend before...