Serena Williams draws 113th-ranked Harmony Tan in Wimbledon first round; Rafael Nadal given tough draw

Serena Williams' eagerly-awaited return at Wimbledon will begin in the first round against France's Harmony Tan as the 23-times Grand Slam champion resumes singles action after a year out.

The 40-year-old American avoided the big names in Friday's draw and will get the chance to ease into the tournament against world No. 113 Tan as she targets an eighth singles title at the All England Club.

Williams, notionally ranked down at 1,204 and therefore a wildcard next week, has not played a singles match since retiring injured and in tears in the first round a year ago against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

If she survives her opener against Tan, Williams could face Spanish 32nd seed Sara Sorribes Tormo in the second round with a possible third round against last year's runner-up Karolina Pliskova.

Men's top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic, chasing a 21st Grand Slam title after a troubled year, will open his campaign against South Korea's Soon-woo Kwon.

Second seed Rafa Nadal, who is half way to a calendar year Grand Slam, plays world No. 42 Francisco Cerundolo in the first round while compatriot Carlos Alcaraz takes on Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.

Women's top seed Iga Swiatek, who is on a 35-match winning run, opens against Croatian qualifier Jana Fett while second seed Anett Kontaveit takes on American Bernarda Pera.

American teenager Coco Gauff, who reached the French Open final and is seeded 11th, plays Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Britain's U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu faces a tricky opener against experienced Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck.

Raducanu, 19, has struggled since her incredible run in New York and has been dealing with an injury in the build-up.

Compatriot Andy Murray, champion in 2013 and 2016 but