Serena Williams will make her long-anticipated return to competitive tennis at this month’s Queen’s Club Championships, nearly four years after her last professional match.
Williams made the announcement on Monday.
Williams – the greatest female tennis player of the Open Era – retired from professional tennis at the 2022 US Open after losing to Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round, and won the last of her 23 grand slam singles titles in 2017.
The 44-year-old re-entered the anti-doping testing pool last year in a move that was widely considered to hint at a comeback, before she shut down speculation online.
She has received a wildcard entry into the doubles draw, the London-based club said in a statement.
“Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter,” Williams said.
“Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I’m excited to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.”
Williams posted a video on social media in which she was shown walking off a tennis court to her buzzing phone.
“Guess everybody heard the news,” she said, while the post had the caption: “Good news travels fast.”
Multiple reports in the British media said that Williams will team up with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, after requesting a wildcard for the June 8 to 14 tournament.
The attention will now shift to whether Wimbledon, where Williams won seven singles titles, will also offer her a path to compete at the All England Club when the grasscourt grand slam gets underway on June 29.
Mboko has surged into the world’s top 10 in the past six months, beating top 10 players including Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova, Elena Rybakina and Karolina Muchova.
Valerie Camillo, chair of the women’s tennis body WTA, said the tour was thrilled to welcome Williams back.
“Serena is one of the greatest athletes of all time, with a legacy that extends far beyond the court … I cannot wait to see her face a new generation of top players,” Camillo said.
“We are thrilled to welcome her back to the WTA Tour at this hugely exciting moment for women’s tennis.”
The door is now open for a potential revival of Williams’ successful doubles partnership with her sister Venus, who is 15 months older and still playing on the circuit.
The pair have won 14 grand slam doubles titles together.
with AP
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Billie Eder is a sports reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
