Serena Williams' Return
Serena Williams makes surprise return with Mboko at historic Queen's Club doubles tournament
Serena Williams is set to return to competitive tennis by partnering with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko in doubles as wild-card entries at the Queen’s Club Championships in London next week. Mboko confirmed the pairing on social media after practicing with Williams on the grass, calling it an honor and describing Williams as her idol. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion who last played in 2022, will make her first appearance in nearly four years, starting her grass-court schedule before Wimbledon. The Reuters report notes the comeback follows intensified speculation after Williams re-entered the anti-doping testing pool, despite having previously said she was “evolving away from tennis.” Queen’s Club is also notable because women were not able to compete there from 1973 through 2024, making this year the first opportunity for Williams at the historic venue. For Mboko, the chance to play alongside Williams is a marquee opportunity, while Williams brings a dominant doubles legacy with multiple major titles, including a perfect record in Grand Slam doubles finals with Venus.
Key Points
Reuters reports Williams will play the Queen’s Club event as part of a WTA 500 tournament running June 8–14 in London.
Reuters adds that Mboko had hinted about Williams’ return after her French Open run—specifically, after winning her French Open second-round match.
Multiple reports note Williams has not publicly specified her broader 2026 schedule, saying she has “yet to say whether she plans to play at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open in 2026.”
Lokmat Times highlights that beyond her doubles record, Serena Williams won “four Olympic gold medals,” underscoring the depth of her achievements that the partnership brings into the draw.
A separate report says the wild-card gives the pair entry into a “16-team doubles competition” at Queen’s Club, clarifying the size/format of the doubles field Williams will join.
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