Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has confirmed she will return to professional tennis next week at Queen's Club in London. The 44-year-old American has been granted a wildcard into the doubles draw at the WTA 500 event, marking her first competition since the 2022 US Open.
Williams announced her comeback in a Nike video with the tagline: “Guess everybody heard the news.” She said in a statement: “Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter. 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.”
Speculation about her return grew after she re-entered the drug-testing pool last December. Reports of training sessions in Florida, including a video with world No. 79 Alycia Parks in March, further fuelled rumours. Williams will partner Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, ranked No. 9 in singles, in the doubles competition at Queen's.
Mboko, speaking at the French Open, said: “I’m very happy. Me and Serena have stayed in touch, which is really, really nice, because I really look up to her. I mean, the fact that she even knows me is very exciting. I think for me I want to let the moment be for her.”
Williams, who has won seven Wimbledon singles titles, may consider competing in singles at the championships, which begin on 29 June. However, the short grass-court season leaves minimal preparation time. She is the only player to achieve a career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.
