Serena Williams is likely to escape being fined up to half her Wimbledon prize money for failing to attend a press conference after defeat in her comeback at SW19.
The 44-year-old, who was given a wild card by the All England Club, faced a backlash on Tuesday night over her response to her loss to Maya Joint in her first singles match since coming out of retirement.
After acknowledging Joint’s 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 triumph with the briefest of handshakes, Williams did not conduct a mandatory post-match press conference.
That followed her last Wimbledon conqueror, Harmony Tan, posting on Instagram on Tuesday that she had been blocked on Instagram by the 23-time grand slam champion “after the handshake” between the pair four years ago.
Joint said she was honoured to share a court with seven-time Wimbledon champion Williams, who did not speak to her opponent during a brief embrace at the net after the match.
“I was up until 2am just thinking about it,” Joint said. “Walking out, I forgot the warm-up, my legs weren’t moving.
“I don’t know what just happened to be honest. This is pretty crazy.”
John McEnroe was embroiled in a terse exchange with Nick Mullins, the BBC commentator, after being asked whether this was the last the crowd had seen of Williams in the singles.
“You think I know? Don’t ask me a question that’s unanswerable,” McEnroe responded.
Mullins said: “We’re just speculating, John, don’t look at me like that. It’s what we do, it’s our job.”
Williams’s failure to attend a press conference could result in a fine up to $50,000 (£37,764), about half her £80,000 first-round prize money.
The grand slam rulebook states that players must attend post-match conferences “unless unable to appear on reasonable grounds (for instance illness or injury)”.
It adds: “If a player is unable to appear, the appropriate level of direct communication is requested. Violation of this section shall subject a player to a fine up to $50,000.”
Williams’s non-appearance was criticised by Simon Cambers, the president of the International Tennis Writers Association, who wrote on X: “Impressed at how hard (Williams) fought tonight. Not impressed that she refused to do her obligatory media conference. Having been given a wildcard by Wimbledon, that’s not on.”
In a statement shortly after her defeat, Wimbledon said: “Unfortunately Serena Williams will not be able to undertake media this evening.”
It added what it said were “quotes from her”, which read: “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.”
Telegraph Sport has been told Williams is “unlikely” to be fined after informing organisers she was “unable” to attend the press conference.
Williams, who retired from tennis in 2022, is scheduled to team up with sister Venus in the doubles against Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio this week.