Williams secures Queen’s Club victory in return after 1,375-day absence
The 44-year-old American claimed a straight-sets win at the Andy Murray Arena, citing family and boredom as primary motivations for her comeback.
Serena Williams has returned to professional tennis after a 1,375-day hiatus, securing a victory in a doubles match at the Queen’s Club in London. The 44-year-old American partnered with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko to defeat the third seeds, Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez, 7-6 (7-2) 6-2. The result marks Williams’ first match win since the 2022 US Open, concluding a 92-minute contest on Tuesday evening.
Williams’ return follows a period of speculation regarding her status in the sport. Her name appeared on the list of players registered for the drug-testing pool last year, and she was subsequently included on the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reinstatements list in February. The specific details of her participation were confirmed only one week prior to the match, following what Williams described as a whirlwind nine days of preparation.
The motivation for her return was framed in personal rather than competitive terms. Williams stated she had "nothing better to do" and was "tired of sitting at home" while her children were out of school for the summer. She also noted the significance of playing at the iconic venue, which she observed was historically "just the men," describing the opportunity to compete there as "really special."
On court, Williams partnered with Mboko, a pairing they had not previously attempted. Williams praised her partner’s ability to "hold up the team" and play big points, noting that despite their lack of prior experience together, the partnership felt "natural." While Williams admitted her first volley of the match went into the net, her serve, once considered her greatest weapon, proved decisive in securing the victory.
The match was attended by Williams’ daughters, eight-year-old Olympia and Adira, who was born in 2023. They watched from the stands alongside their father, cheering as their mother competed. Williams stated she had "nothing to prove" with this comeback, emphasizing that the primary goal was for her daughters to see her play. The extent of her future participation in professional tennis remains unspecified.
