Serena Williams wins on tennis return after four-year absence

Tennis legend Serena Williams made a triumphant return to the court on Tuesday, winning her doubles match at the Queen's Club in London after a four-year hiatus from competitive play. The American star, who had appeared to conclude her illustrious career, teamed up with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko to defeat the formidable third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez with a score of 7-6 (7/2), 6-2.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, had surprised the sporting world a week prior with her announcement that she would compete in the Queen's Club doubles. The 44-year-old athlete embraced the moment, overcoming pre-match nerves to deliver a performance reminiscent of her prime. "I got nervous like, maybe 30 minutes before, and then I just just let it go," Williams said. "I didn’t really think about being nervous, I thought about having fun, which I did. It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria."

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I got nervous like, maybe 30 minutes before, and then I just just let it go. I didn’t really think about being nervous, I thought about having fun, which I did. It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria.

Her return to competitive tennis for the first time since the 2022 U.S. Open saw Williams showcase her signature powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes, delighting a capacity crowd. Despite the victory, Williams maintained a critical eye on her performance. When asked to rate her play, she responded, "A C minus? All the elements, considering coming back on grass is probably not the easiest surface. On the grass, four years… Overall I think it was decent."

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I never got to play here before, it was always just the men. It feels really special to play somewhere so iconic.

Williams has previously stated that her comeback was inspired by a desire to play in front of her children. Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their two young daughters, Olympia and Adira, were present in the stands, witnessing her characteristically combative display. However, Williams humorously noted that her children were more focused on immediate concerns than her tennis match, with Adira wanting to visit a toy store and Olympia inquiring about dinner plans.

Following this successful return, Williams and Mboko are set to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarter-finals. Williams is also scheduled to compete in doubles at the Berlin Open next week, fueling anticipation among fans about a potential appearance at Wimbledon.

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Oh my god! What do you think? A C minus? All the elements, considering coming back on grass is probably not the easiest surface. On the grass, four years… Overall I think it was decent.