Serena Williams will make her long-awaited return to competitive tennis at Queen's Club on Tuesday, partnering 19-year-old Victoria Mboko in a doubles match. The 44-year-old American, who has not played since her 2022 US Open exit, will face third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe at the Andy Murray Arena.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, has been documenting her fitness journey on social media. After giving birth to her second child in August 2023, she posted updates showing a noticeably slimmer physique than during her playing career. In January 2024, she said in an Instagram Reel: "Alright, I'm getting back into the swing of things. This is not my usual weight, but it'll do until I get back to where I need to be."
By July 2025, she displayed her toned stomach in a training post captioned "Working out and working on my angles." Fans were quick to praise her transformed appearance, with comments including "Insane - you look stunning - so fit, so gorgeous" and "Ripped! Consistent lifestyle changes (diet/exercise) are paying off!" Another added: "That's an incredible transformation. Keep it up Serena."
The seven-time Wimbledon champion re-joined the anti-doping testing pool later in 2025, fulfilling the mandatory six-month period required for all players. Earlier this month, she accepted a wildcard to play alongside world No.9 Mboko at Queen's, a tournament where she has previously enjoyed success. "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."
Her comeback has sparked speculation about a potential Wimbledon return, with wildcards for the major due to be announced next week. Williams, who has won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, spoke about her motivations: "This whole journey is no pressure, I've had enough pressure, it's about so many elements. My kids getting to see me play, Olympia is older, an athlete is the best thing you can be in the highest place. Having an opportunity to do that one last time is exciting."
