Wimbledon 2021: How to Watch Serena Williams, Coco Gauff First Round Matches, Live Stream
Serena Williams resumes her quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles titles on Tuesday, when she opens her Wimbledon campaign against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.
A runner-up at Wimbledon in 2018 and 2019—the tournament was canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic—Williams last won a major over four years ago when she claimed the 2017 Australian Open. Her last triumph in southwest London came in July of the previous year.
Three months short of her 39th birthday, Williams is well aware she may be running out of time to equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles crowns, and she is under no illusion about the challenges that lie ahead.
"I've had a big X on my back since '99, since I won the U.S. Open," Williams told The Guardian earlier this week.
"When players play me that hard every single tournament, every single match, every single Grand Slam, it just doesn't matter where. [...] It's been difficult mentally when someone might beat you and they lose directly in the next round almost every time. At the end of the day that's why I'm Serena. So thanks."
While the seven-time Wimbledon champion is more vulnerable than when at her dominant best, she should still have far too much for Sasnovich, the world No. 100, who has never made it further than the Round of 16 at the All England Club.
Before Williams begins her 20th campaign at the oldest of the four Grand Slam tournaments, all eyes will be on Coco Gauff, who opens her tournament against Britain's Francesca Jones.
Gauff announced her arrival on tennis' biggest stage in style two years ago, becoming the youngest player in the tournament's history to qualify for the main draw just three months after her 15th birthday, before defeating Venus Williams in the opening round.
The teenager lost in the fourth round against eventual champion Simona Halep, who pulled out of this year's tournament last week with a calf injury, but not before becoming tennis' latest sensation. Two years on, Gauff arrives at Wimbledon as the world No. 23—the highest ranking in her short career—and she will be looking to hit the ground running against Jones, the world No. 211.
Here's all you need to know ahead of Tuesday.
How to Watch Wimbledon on TV
Coverage on Tuesday begins at 6 a.m. ET on ESPN and runs until 11:30 a.m. ET, before switching to ESPN2 from 11:30 a.m. ET until 4:30 p.m. ET.
How to Watch Wimbledon Online
Fans can watch the action online via ESPN3, ESPN+ as well as via the WatchESPN app. The tournament will also be available via streaming services like fuboTV and Sling TV, which carry ESPN channels.
When Do Coco Gauff and Serena Williams Play at Wimbledon?
Coco Gauff and Francesca Jones are expected out on Court No. 2 at approximately 1:40 p.m. local time (8:40 a.m. ET), while Serena Williams and Aliaksandra Sasnovich will play on Centre Court at about 11:45 a.m. ET following the match between Roger Federer and Adrian Mannarino, which is due to start at 9:45 a.m. ET.
As ever, times are subject to change depending on how long previous matches last for.
Wimbledon First Round Schedule
Aside from Coco Gauff and Serena Williams, there are seven other Americans in the women's tournament alone in action on Tuesday. Venus Williams faces Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu at 6 a.m. ET, while Ann Li and Shelby Rogers take on Argentina's Nadia Podoroska and Australia's Samantha Stosur at the same time.
No. 28 seed Alison Riske also begins her tournament in the morning session when she plays Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic, while No. 22 seed Jessica Pegula is due on court at around 8 a.m. ET against France's Caroline Garcia and Bernarda Pera faces Japan's Nao Hibino at 9:45 a.m. ET.
CoCo Vandeweghe, meanwhile, is expected on court at approximately 11:15 a.m. for her match against Olga Govortsova of Belarus.
Aside from American interest, world No. 1 and pre-tournament favorite Ashleigh Barty begins her quest for a first Wimbledon crown at 8:30 a.m. ET on Centre Court against Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, while 2018 Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber, the No. 25 seed, faces Serbia's Nina Stojanovic at 10 a.m. ET.
Former world No. 1 Karolina Plíšková, the No. 8 seed, opens her tournament against recent French Open semifinalist Tamara Zidanšek at 6 a.m. ET and No. 5 seed Bianca Andreescu of Canada plays France's Alize Cornet at approximately 12 p.m. ET.
