Queen’s Club sees Serena Williams win on return to tennis after nearly four years
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Serena Williams wins on return at Queen's after nearly four years away from tennis
Serena Williams made a winning return to tennis at Queen’s Club, competing in a doubles match after an absence of 1,375 days from the sport. The 44-year-old American partnered with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko to defeat third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez with a score of 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. The match took place on Tuesday evening at the Andy Murray Arena, which was filled with spectators eager to witness Williams’ comeback.
Williams expressed her enjoyment of the match, stating, “It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria. She was really able to hold up the team and play big on the big points. I could rely on her. We have never played together but it felt so natural.” Mboko also praised Williams, remarking, “Don’t be too hard on yourself. I thought she was moving great.”
The Road to Return
Williams had previously indicated she was “evolving away” from tennis in 2022, following a career that included 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Speculation about her potential return began last year when her name appeared on the drug-testing pool list, and again in February when she was included on the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reinstatements list. Despite initial social media posts where Williams denied a comeback, her return was officially confirmed last week when her participation in doubles at London’s Queen’s Club alongside Mboko was announced.
Williams’ motivation for returning included the prospect of her daughters, Olympia, aged eight, and Adira, born in 2023, seeing her play. Both daughters, accompanied by their father, watched from the stands. Williams joked about their reaction to her performance, saying, “Adira wanted to go to the toy store and Olympia wanted to know what’s for dinner.”
The match marked Williams’ first victory since the 2022 US Open. Her serve, a notable weapon throughout her career, proved effective, with one serve recorded at 120mph. While some observers noted her overhead shots were a bit rusty and her movement occasionally off-pace, her powerful groundstrokes and volleying skills were evident. Mboko, who is 19 years old and ranked within the singles top 10, played a crucial role in covering the baseline and was chosen by Williams for her partnership.
What’s Next for the Duo
Following their initial win, Williams and Mboko are scheduled to compete again later this week. The North American pair will face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the second round of the tournament. Williams has adopted a day-by-day approach regarding further commitments, including potential participation in Wimbledon doubles or a return to singles play.
Williams reflected on her return, stating, “It’s about time” and drew parallels to the recent comebacks of friends like skier Lindsey Vonn and track athlete Allyson Felix. She emphasized that age is not a barrier, noting, “You can do anything at any age. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re healthy and you take care of yourself and you’re happy and you’re doing your best – it’s really all that matters.”
The match, lasting approximately 90 minutes, saw Williams serving out the final points with a sequence of an ace, another ace, and an unreturned serve, securing the victory for the team.
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Source: bbc.com
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