Serena Williams begins tennis comeback with doubles match at Queen's

Serena Williams' much-hyped comeback to professional tennis at the Queen's Club lasted just one match. The 44-year-old Williams' doubles partner, 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, was forced to withdraw from the draw on Thursday because of a knee injury she sustained in a singles match against Karolina Pliskova in the last 32 on Wednesday. In her first professional match since the 2022 U.S. Open, Williams teamed up with Mboko to beat third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2), 6-2 at the grass-court event on Tuesday.

Serena Williams's long-awaited return to competitive tennis was left in the balance Wednesday after doubles partner Victoria Mboko was forced to retire in her opening singles match during the WTA tour event at Queen's Club.Mboko, who received a bye into the round of 16 for the singles event, was down a set but leading Karolina Pliskova 4-3 in the second when she slipped behind the baseline trying to return a shot.

Serena Williams made a victorious return to professional tennis at Queen’s on Tuesday, teaming up with Victoria Mboko in doubles at the London grass-court event. The 44-year-old came back with a smile, a win, and a typically dry answer about what brought her back to the court.

With an ace out wide, another ace out wide, and then a service winner, Serena Williams booked a place for her and her partner, rising star Victoria Mboko, in the Queen’s women’s doubles quarterfinals. The greatest server in the history of women’s tennis and one of the greatest players of the modern era is back, with a comfortable 7-6(2), 6-2 win over No. 3 seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez marking her return to tennis after almost four years away. There was some uncertainty about

Serena Williams makes a triumphant return to professional tennis at the Queen's Club, securing a first-round doubles victory alongside Canada's Victoria Mboko. Playing on the Andy Murray Arena, the 44-year-old American icon inspired the crowd by declaring "you can do anything at any age" following their victory.

Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko defeat third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe to reach the second round at Queen's. The unseeded pair came through a tie-break in the opening set before racing away with the second set to win 7-6 (7-2) 6-2.

Serena Williams hit a 193 kilometres per hour serve and celebrated her comeback to tennis with a 7-6 (2) 6-2 first-round doubles victory alongside Victoria Mboko after the pair beat Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe at the HSBC Championships in London. Williams, at 44, is a quarter-century older than 19-year-old Mboko.

44-year-old victorious alongside partner Victoria Mboko Pair win 7-6 (2), 6-2 over Melichar-Martinez and Routliffe 1,375 days later, Serena Wiliams resumed her life as a professional tennis player to an uncharacteristic roar from a usually reserved Queen’s Club crowd filled to the brim. As she warmed up on the grass, flanked by a formidable, precocious partner in Victoria Mboko, Williams could not suppress her smile. Williams marked her comeback at Queen’s with a stellar victory alongside Mboko as they defeated the third seeds, Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, 7-6 (2), 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals. Continue reading...

The 44-year-old teamed up with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko to win their opening doubles match at the grass-court tournament.

Serena Williams made a winning return to tennis after four years in retirement as the American legend partnered Victoria Mboko in a first-round doubles victory at the Queen's Club on Tuesday.The first point of Williams' return was served by Mboko and ended in her partner sending a volley out without the American hitting a shot.

Relive Serena Williams’ first tennis match in nearly four years with live coverage from The Athletic Queen’s Club, LONDON — “The game just hasn’t been the same without her,” Sarah, one of Serena Williams’ super fans, said Tuesday. She had traveled over from Northern Ireland to watch Williams’ return to tennis as a wild card in the women’s doubles at Queen’s, the prestigious warm-up for Wimbledon. Sarah — and countless fans, in-person in and around the world — got to see Williams’ first match in

Serena Williams is back in a professional tennis draw for the first time since the 2022 U.S. Open. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is ... Read More

Editor’s note: This explainer has been updated June 9, 2026, to reflect news of Serena Williams’ first match in her return to professional tennis. Serena Williams, considered by many the greatest women’s tennis player of all time, will return to tennis June 9, with a women’s doubles match at Queen’s, the prestigious grass-court tournament played ahead of Wimbledon, and the Berlin Open. Williams, 44, will compete with Victoria Mboko, the rising 19-year-old Canadian, against No. 3 seeds Erin Routl

At the beginning of the month, the 23-time singles Grand Slam champion announced her return to the sport. Her first tournament will be the HSBC Championships, where she is scheduled to play doubles alongside Canadian talent Victoria Mboko on Tuesday. The young Canadian is already ranked No. 9 in the world in WTA singles. Serena …

The legendary American will play her first competitive match in nearly four years alongside Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko