Serena Williams marked her return to professional tennis with a victory at Queen's Club, partnering 19-year-old Victoria Mboko in the doubles competition. The 44-year-old American, competing for the first time in 1,375 days, helped secure a 7-6 (2), 6-2 win over the third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe on the Andy Murray Arena.
Williams, who was greeted by a roar from the crowd as she walked onto court, showed glimpses of her old self. Her serve, widely regarded as the greatest in women's tennis, remained a potent weapon, culminating in a 120mph service winner during a tense moment at 5-5 in the first set. She also fired several body shots early in the match, signalling that her competitive edge had not dulled with time.
However, her return of serve and movement were below her usual standards, and she took time to find her range on groundstrokes. Mboko, ranked world No 9, played a leading role, serving first in both sets and taking charge in sudden-death points. Reflecting on her performance, Williams laughed: "My God, I think I would give myself – what do you think? A C-minus?" Mboko acknowledged the pair were self-critical but noted they had "so much room for improvement".
The comeback was a family affair, with Williams's eldest daughter, Olympia, joining her mother on the practice courts before the match. The eight-year-old, dressed in a matching pink outfit, ran around picking up stray balls and throwing them back. Williams, whose younger daughter Adira is two, has been able to share her profession with her children this time around.
The return also carried commercial dimensions, with Williams featuring as the face of the weight-loss drug Ro, which sponsored the broadcast. Yet the most memorable moment came at the end, as Williams served out the victory, closing the match in familiar fashion after an entertaining 90 minutes.
