Serena Williams will make her long-awaited return to competitive tennis at this month’s Queen’s Club Championships, nearly four years after her last professional match.
Williams made the announcement on Monday.
Williams – the greatest female tennis player of the Open Era – retired from professional tennis at the 2022 US Open after losing to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round, and won the last of her 23 singles grand slam titles in 2017.
The 44-year-old re-entered the doping pool last year in a move that many considered to signal a comeback, before shutting down online rumours.
He has received competition to enter the draw for two players, the London-based club said in a statement.
“The Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to start this next chapter,” Williams said.
“Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I’m excited to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.”
Williams posted a video on social media in which she was shown walking off the tennis court to her cellphone.
“I think everyone heard the news,” he said, while the post had the caption: “Good news travels fast.”
Multiple reports in the British media said that Williams will be joined by 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, after claiming a wild card for the June 8-14 tournament.
Attention will now turn to whether Wimbledon, where Williams won seven singles titles, will also give her a chance to compete at the All England Club when the tournament starts on June 29.
Mboko has broken into the world’s top 10 in the past six months, beating top 10 players including Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova, Elena Rybakina and Karolina Muchova.
Valerie Camillo, chairwoman of the WTA women’s tennis board, said the tour was happy to welcome Williams back.
“Serena is one of the greatest athletes of all time, with a history that extends far beyond the court … I can’t wait to see her face a new generation of top players,” Camillo said.
“We are delighted to welcome her back to the WTA Tour at this exciting time for women’s tennis.”
The door is now open for a possible revival of Williams’ successful partnership with her sister Venus, who is 15 months old and still on the circuit.
The two have won 14 grand slam doubles titles together.
with AP
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Billie Eder is a sports reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect through X or email address.
