By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-01 14:45:48 | Updated at 2026-06-07 15:26:57
6 days ago
Serena Williams is coming out of retirement to make a shock return to tennis at the age of 44.
The American, a 23-time grand slam champion, will play in the doubles at the HSBC Championships at the Queen's Club in London next week almost four years after her last competitive match.
That is the tournament that traditionally takes place before Wimbledon, opening up the prospect of Williams making a return to the grand slam in London as well.
Williams has been granted a wildcard at Queen's and will partner with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, who idolised the American as a child.
Queen's Club posted on Monday: 'The Queen returns! Serena Williams is back and set for doubles at the HSBC Championships.'
Williams then posted 'good news travels fast' with a video showing her on court in a white Nike tennis dress and with her phone lighting up in the background. 'Guess everybody heard the news,' the short clip added.
Serena Williams is coming out of retirement to make a shock return to tennis at the age of 44
In a press release, Williams said: 'Queen's Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter.
'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, who gave birth to her second child in 2023, has not played a competitive match since she was knocked out in the third round of the US Open in 2022.
But speculation of a comeback intensified when it emerged Williams had reentered the International Tennis Integrity Agency's anti-doping testing pool last year. She was cleared to make her return in February.
More to follow.
