Serena Williams Returns to Professional Tennis at Queen's Club This Summer

Tennis legend Serena Williams has confirmed her return to professional competition, entering the women's doubles draw at Queen's Club as a wild-card participant this summer. The 44-year-old will partner Canadian rising star Victoria Mboko at the HSBC Championships, marking her first competitive appearance since exiting the 2022 US Open in the third round. A potential Wimbledon entry remains under consideration, though the format—singles, doubles, or both—has not yet been disclosed.

Comeback Details

Williams has not competed professionally for nearly three years, though she consistently framed her 2022 departure as "evolving away" from tennis rather than retirement. As recently as December, she dismissed comeback speculation. Her shift in direction came after registering with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the sport's anti-doping authority, a procedural step athletes must complete before returning to competition. The agency requires a six-month testing period before competition eligibility is restored.

Queen's Club holds profound significance in Williams's career. She described the venue as "the perfect place to begin this next chapter," citing grass courts as the source of some of her sport's most meaningful achievements. Tournament director Laura Robson welcomed the announcement, calling Williams "one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen."

Family Legacy and Motivation

The comeback echoes her older sister Venus's recent return. Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, resumed competing in July at age 45 after nearly two years away from the professional circuit. At the 2025 US Open, Venus became the oldest player to compete in singles at a Grand Slam tournament since 1981. The Williams sisters have shared 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and Venus has previously expressed enthusiasm about Serena joining her on the tour once more.

Williams has acknowledged that the primary reason for stepping back from professional tennis three years ago was her desire to expand her family. She gave birth to her second daughter in August 2023, having welcomed her first child in the years prior. Her return now signals a shift in priorities and the completion of that personal chapter.