The 23 Time Grand Slam Champion Will Make Her Comeback In Doubles At Queen’s Club Ahead Of Wimbledon Season
Serena Williams is officially returning to the tennis court after nearly four years away from professional competition.
The 44 year old tennis legend has accepted a wild card entry into the doubles draw at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London, marking her first professional appearance since the 2022 U.S. Open.
Williams, a 23 time Grand Slam singles champion, never formally announced her retirement. Instead, she described her departure from the sport as “evolving away from tennis,” leaving the door open for a future return. Now, that return is set to happen on grass, one of the surfaces where Williams built some of the most memorable chapters of her career.
“Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter,” Williams said in a statement shared by the Lawn Tennis Association. “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.”
The HSBC Championships begin with women’s qualifying on June 6, with the women’s main draw starting June 8. Williams is expected to compete in doubles, though tournament officials have not formally announced her partner.
Queen’s Club tournament director Laura Robson said during a TNT Sports broadcast that 19 year old Victoria Mboko would be Williams’ partner. Reports have also linked Williams and Mboko as a doubles pairing, but official confirmation has not yet been released.
The return gives Williams a lower pressure path back into competition while still placing her on one of tennis’ most visible stages. Queen’s Club has long been one of the sport’s signature grass court events and serves as a key lead up tournament before Wimbledon.
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Williams’ comeback rumors began picking up momentum late last year when her name appeared in the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s testing pool. Under tennis anti-doping rules, returning players must give written notice and be available for testing before competing again.
At the time, Williams tried to cool the speculation, writing on X, “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back,” and adding that the rumor had spread quickly.
But on Monday, Williams posted a short video on social media showing her walking onto a tennis court. The clip ended with the words, “Guess everybody heard the news.” Soon after, Queen’s Club made the announcement official.
Good news travels fast. pic.twitter.com/R7x7EFPUJ8
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 1, 2026
The WTA also confirmed the return, calling Williams’ comeback a major moment for the sport.
Williams last played in September 2022, when she lost to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović in the third round of the U.S. Open. That match became an emotional farewell moment for fans, even though Williams avoided using the word retirement.
Wimbledon Questions Remain
Because Williams is returning on grass, attention quickly turned to Wimbledon, where she has won seven singles titles, six doubles titles and one mixed doubles title.
It remains unclear whether Williams will compete at Wimbledon this year. The tournament responded to the Queen’s Club news on social media with a brief message celebrating “Serena on grass.”
If Williams does play Wimbledon, it would mark another major moment in a career already filled with historic returns, dominant runs and career defining performances. For now, her comeback begins in doubles at Queen’s Club, where fans will get their first look at one of the greatest athletes in sports history back in competition.
Williams’ résumé remains unmatched in modern women’s tennis. She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era. She also won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister Venus Williams and captured four Olympic gold medals.
Her impact has extended far beyond the court. Williams became one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, changing how women’s tennis was watched, marketed and discussed. Her return does not just bring another star back to the schedule. It brings back a player whose presence has shaped generations of fans and athletes.
For women’s tennis, Serena Williams stepping back onto the court is not just a comeback. It is a reminder that some legends do not leave quietly. They evolve, they circle back and, apparently, they still know exactly how to make the whole tennis world stop scrolling.
