Serena Williams to Make Comeback at Queen's Club Championships

Serena Williams Returns to Tennis at 44

London [UK], June 1: Tennis icon Serena Williams is poised to return to the professional tennis scene at the age of 44 during the upcoming HSBC Championships at Queen's Club, marking her first competitive match since the 2022 US Open.

Since her loss to Ajla Tomljanovic at the 2022 US Open, Williams has been absent from the professional circuit. She previously mentioned her choice to step back from tennis as an evolution rather than a formal retirement, according to reports from a media channel.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion has received a wild-card entry for the women's doubles event at Queen's and is anticipated to partner with Canadian tennis prodigy Victoria Mboko.

Her return has sparked speculation about a potential appearance at Wimbledon later this month, where she might also be granted a wild-card. It remains uncertain whether Williams intends to compete solely in doubles or if she aims for a singles comeback.

Williams expressed her excitement, stating, "Queen's Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter." She added, "Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I’m thrilled to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages."

Laura Robson, the tournament director, remarked, "Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, and we’re delighted that she will be making her return to tennis at the LTA’s HSBC Championships."

Wimbledon is set to commence on June 29, where Williams could receive a wild-card, although it remains unclear if she wishes to focus on doubles or pursue a singles return.

Her comeback seemed inevitable after she registered with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in December.

Williams last claimed a Grand Slam singles title at the 2017 Australian Open while she was early in her pregnancy. Since then, she has reached four additional Grand Slam finals but has not matched Margaret Court’s record of 24 major singles titles.

She reached four finals following her maternity leave, two at Wimbledon and two at the US Open, but was defeated in straight sets each time.

Having won her first major title at the US Open in 1999 as a 17-year-old, Williams discussed her plans to retire in a 2022 Vogue interview. She stated, "I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want [Court’s] record. The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus Grand Slams. I had my chances after coming back from giving birth. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually, it’s extraordinary."