Tennis
Serena Williams Confirms Stunning Return to Tennis at 44
Serena Williams has confirmed she will return to competitive tennis at age 44, nearly three years after her most recent match, marking a surprising comeback at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club Championships.
Williams last played in the 2022 US Open, where she was defeated in the third round by Ajla Tomljanovic. Since then, she has been absent from professional competition until announcing her return in the doubles event at Queen’s Club.
She will team up with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, describing the venue as an ideal setting to restart her career. Williams said grass courts have played a defining role in her legacy and expressed excitement about competing again on one of tennis’s most iconic surfaces.
“Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter,” said Williams. “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.”
Tournament director Laura Robson welcomed the announcement, calling Williams one of the sport’s greatest athletes and highlighting the significance of her return for both the tournament and fans.
She also noted the growing profile of women’s tennis at Queen’s Club following its recent return to the venue.
“Women’s tennis made a historic return to The Queen’s Club last year, and now we have an icon of the game stepping back onto court at this prestigious venue—it’s very exciting for the tournament and the fans.”
The comeback follows Williams’ re-entry into the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) testing programme, a required step for players resuming competition after a break.
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