Tennis legend Serena Williams is making a surprise return to professional tennis today (Monday, June 8), ending her four-year retirement at the age of 44. Williams will compete in doubles at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London, partnering with 19-year-old Canadian rising star Victoria Mboko. Williams, who is 25 years Mboko’s senior, expressed her excitement about returning, telling reporters, “Why not?”
Williams’ comeback tour won’t stop in London. She is set to participate in the Berlin Tennis Open starting June 15, as confirmed by tournament officials. While her partner for Berlin is yet to be announced, Williams is eager to compete in front of German fans and build momentum throughout the grass-court season. The 23-time Grand Slam champion has not played since her farewell at the US Open in 2022, where she mentioned she was “evolving away” from tennis.
Speculation about Williams’ return has been growing since she re-entered the anti-doping program, a requirement for tour play, last year. Former world number one Lindsay Davenport revealed that Williams’ comeback could have happened sooner if not for the six-month requirement in the program. Davenport expressed excitement about Williams’ return, saying, “It’s going to be great to see her back out there.”
Williams’ return is seen as a strategic move with Wimbledon in mind, and the first batch of wild cards for singles and doubles will be announced during the Berlin tournament. Williams remains one Grand Slam singles title behind record holder Margaret Court and has not won a major trophy since 2017. However, Davenport believes Williams is in incredible shape and ready to make an immediate impact in women’s tennis.
The Berlin Tennis Open will feature a 16-team doubles draw, with Williams bringing star power to the event. Tournament director Markus Zoecke expressed excitement about Williams’ participation, calling it a unique opportunity to see her on the court in Berlin again. The tournament begins on June 15, with live coverage available on The Tennis Channel.
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