Serena Williams is returning to professional tennis after a four-year absence, announcing she will compete next week at Queen's Club in London. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion will play doubles at the WTA 500 event, marking her first match since retiring from the sport at the 2022 US Open.
Williams will partner with Canadian player Victoria Mboko, currently ranked No. 9 in singles, in the women's doubles draw. She received a wildcard into the competition for what is only the second edition of the event at the historic grass court venue.
In a statement confirming her return, Williams described Queen's Club as the ideal setting for her comeback. "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."
The legendary athlete holds records across multiple disciplines in professional tennis. She is the only player ever to capture the career golden slam in both singles and doubles categories. Her 23 Grand Slam singles titles remain the open-era record, while her 14 doubles championships underscore her dominance across both formats.
Mboko, who was in Paris for the French Open last week, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership before Williams made her announcement public. "I'm very happy. Me and Serena have stayed in touch, which is really, really nice, because I really look up to her," Mboko said at the time. "The fact that she even knows me is very exciting."
Mboko deferred to Williams on the decision to return, saying she wanted to give the moment proper space. "I feel like if she's ready to come back on her own terms, then I feel like it's up to her to announce that."
Author James Rodriguez: "At 44, most athletes are firmly in retirement mode, but Serena never played by conventional rules, and she's not starting now."
Comments