Serena Williams returns at Wimbledon as Rafael Nadal eyes next leg of Grand Slam

Two of tennis' biggest stars are in Wimbledon action on Tuesday as Serena Williams returns to singles tennis after a year away as Rafael Nadal begins his quest to win the third leg of a potential calendar Grand Slam.

Women's top seed Iga Swiatek, who has won her past six tournaments, will kick off proceedings on Centre Court at 12.30pm (GMT) against Croatian qualifier Jana Fett.

But all eyes will be on seven-time champion Williams, who faces unseeded Harmony Tan of France in her first singles match since an injury forced her to pull out of her first-round match last year.

Williams, 40, won the last of her Wimbledon singles titles six years ago but reached the final in 2018 and 2019.

The American, who was given a wildcard for this year's tournament, is chasing a 24th Grand Slam singles title that would see her tie Margaret Court's all-time record.

Williams said thoughts of retirement had not been on her agenda during her year-long absence.

"I didn't retire. I just needed to heal physically, mentally. I had no plans. I just didn't know when I would come back. I didn't know how I would come back," she told reporters Saturday.

She warmed up for the Championships by teaming up with Ons Jabeur in the doubles at Eastbourne last week and Wimbledon is widely considered her best chance of winning an elusive 24th Grand Slam.

Spaniard Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Casper Ruud of Norway to win the French Open for a 14th time at Roland Garros in Paris on June 5, 2022. EPA

Nadal is halfway to winning all four majors in 2022 after winning the Australian Open in January and a 14th French Open title earlier this month.

No man has achieved the feat since Ron Laver in 1969, with Novak Djokovic falling just short last year when he