Serena Williams Confirms Competitive Tennis Return at Queen’s Club
Serena Williams Confirms Competitive Tennis Return at Queen’s Club
Serena Williams Confirms Competitive Tennis Return at Queen’s Club
American tennis legend Serena Williams has confirmed her return to competitive tennis at the age of 44, ending nearly four years away from the professional circuit.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion will compete at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in west London, which begins on June 8, after accepting a wildcard entry into the women’s doubles event.
Williams will partner rising Canadian player Victoria Mboko for the tournament, marking her first appearance in a professional competition since retiring from the WTA Tour in September 2022 following a third-round defeat at the US Open.
Announcing her return, Williams described Queen’s Club as the ideal venue to begin a new chapter in her illustrious career.
“Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter,” she 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, who played her first professional match in 1995, had sparked speculation about a comeback after re-entering tennis’ anti-doping testing pool last year.
The rumours intensified after the seven-time Wimbledon champion declined to rule out a return during recent media appearances.
Her comeback had also been hinted at by Novak Djokovic, who suggested she could target Wimbledon, while her former coach, Rick Macci, said she had been training intensely in preparation for a return to competition.
Williams remains one of the most decorated athletes in tennis history, having won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, seven Wimbledon crowns and four Olympic gold medals.
Meanwhile, her sister, Venus Williams, continues to compete professionally and most recently appeared at the Australian Open earlier this year as a wildcard entrant.
The announcement has generated excitement across the tennis world, with fans eager to see one of the sport’s greatest players return to competition on the grass courts where she enjoyed some of her most memorable successes.
Serena Williams Confirms Competitive Tennis Return at Queen’s Club
