Serena Williams Returns to Professional Tennis with Doubles Victory at Queen's Club

Serena Williams made a triumphant return to professional tennis on Tuesday, securing a doubles victory at Queen's Club after an almost four-year hiatus from the sport. The 44-year-old demonstrated her enduring power, serving aces up to 120 mph as she teamed up with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko for their opening match on the grass courts.

Williams and Mboko defeated the third-seeded pair of Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, 7-6 (2), 6-2. This marked Williams's first professional match since the US Open in 2022. To emphasize her comeback, Williams sealed the victory with two consecutive aces followed by a winning serve.

"It was so much fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria," Williams stated in her on-court interview. "She really was able to hold the team and play big in the important points. I could really count on her. We had never played together, but it felt so natural playing with her."

“

It was so much fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria. She really was able to hold the team and play big in the important points. I could really count on her. We had never played together, but it felt so natural playing with her.

Mboko, considered a rising star on the WTA tour and currently ranked world No. 9, expressed her honor in playing alongside Williams. "I feel very honored to play with Serena," Mboko said. "I had so much fun, if anything. We really did it out there. I'm so happy to be playing alongside you. And let's go for more."

Williams announced her return to doubles last week but has yet to confirm whether she will also compete in singles. The article also includes a promotional mention for the 2026 World Cup "Your World, Your Rules" free pool.

“

I feel very honored to play with Serena. I had so much fun, if anything. We really did it out there. I'm so happy to be playing alongside you. And let's go for more.