Serena is set to make her highly anticipated return at the Queen’s Club Championships
American tennis legend Serena Williams announced her highly anticipated return to competitive play on Monday, marking her comeback at this month’s Queen’s Club Championships after a lengthy absence. The 44-year-old athlete rekindled memories of her remarkable dominance over the past two decades.
Williams, who secured her final Grand Slam singles title in 2017 and has not participated since the 2022 U.S. Open, has been granted a wildcard entry into the doubles draw, according to a statement from the London-based club.
She shared a video on social media that depicted her walking off a tennis court to the sound of her buzzing phone. “Guess everybody heard the news,” she remarked while the post featured the caption “Good news travels fast.”
A long-anticipated comeback
Speculation regarding Williams’ return has grown stronger following her clearance to officially participate in tournaments after re-entering the tennis anti-doping testing pool last year. “Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter,” said former world number one Williams, who is now a mother of two daughters, in her statement. “Grass has given me some of my career’s most important moments, and I’m excited to compete on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.”
Multiple reports in the British media indicate that Williams will partner with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, following her request for a wildcard for the tournament scheduled from June 8 to 14.
The focus will now turn to whether Wimbledon, where Williams secured seven singles titles, will provide her with an opportunity to compete at the All England Club when the grasscourt Grand Slam begins on June 29.
Williams is one of the greatest athletes in history.
Williams has dedicated herself to getting fit over the past few months, frequently sharing updates about her journey on social media, following her final appearance on the WTA Tour in September 2022.
She retired from professional tennis following a third-round loss at the U.S. Open, having previously stated that she was “evolving away from tennis” to focus on other aspects of life, only to announce a return nearly four years later.
The possibility of reviving her successful doubles partnership with her sister Venus, who is 15 months older and still competes on the circuit, has now become a reality.
The duo has secured 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together.
Valerie Camillo, chair of the women’s tennis organization WTA, expressed the tour’s excitement in welcoming the younger Williams back.
Serena is among the greatest athletes of all time, with a legacy that reaches far beyond the court… I am eager to see her compete against a new generation of top players,” Camillo stated. We are excited to have her return to the WTA Tour at this incredibly thrilling moment for women’s tennis.
