Serena Williams returns to professional tennis
After a four-year break
Legendary American tennis star Serena Williams has announced her return to professional competition. After an absence of nearly four years, the 44-year-old winner of 23 Grand Slam titles will compete in the doubles event at the prestigious WTA 500 Queen’s Club Championships, which begin on June 8 in London.
Tournament organizers have awarded Williams a wildcard entry. She is expected to partner with 19-year-old Canadian tennis player Victoria Mboko.
«Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this new chapter. Some of the most important moments of my career happened on grass courts, so I’m thrilled to return to one of the most iconic venues in tennis», – Williams said.
Rumours of a possible comeback had been circulating for several months. Interest intensified following a recent video the tennis star shared on social media. In the clip, she walks onto a tennis court accompanied by the simple caption: «I guess everyone has heard the news by now.» Earlier speculation had also been fuelled by the appearance of Williams’ name on a list of athletes registered for anti-doping testing.
Williams last competed in September 2022 at the US Open, after which she announced her retirement from professional tennis. Over a 27-year career, she became one of the most accomplished players in the history of the sport, winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 doubles titles, and four Olympic gold medals. She finished five seasons as the world’s No. 1 player.
It remains unclear whether Williams plans to compete at the Wimbledon Championships, which gets underway in late June. However, her return is already being hailed as one of the most significant and eagerly anticipated stories of the tennis season.
Photo: Instagram @serenawilliams
