Serena Williams returns to doubles at Queen’s Club

Serena Williams will return to competitive tennis next week at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London, entering the doubles draw. The tournament begins June 6 with women’s qualifying, with the women’s main draw starting June 8. Williams, 44, last pla

When Serena Williams stepped away, it felt final—until it didn’t.

Queen’s Club confirmed that the 44-year-old will return to competitive play next week at the HSBC Championships in London, competing in the doubles tournament at the grass-court event. The tournament begins on June 6 with women’s qualifying, and the women’s main draw is scheduled to begin on June 8.

Williams last played professionally in 2022, when she lost in the US Open to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović. She never officially announced her retirement. and when asked about stepping back. she did not use the word “retirement.” Instead. she said she was “evolving away from tennis.” It has been almost four years since her last match.

Her return was confirmed after she had already been signaling that she might be coming back. In a statement shared on the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) website. Williams framed Queen’s Club as the start of a new phase. “Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter,” she 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 is set to feature in doubles, but her partner was not initially revealed. Queen’s Club’s tournament director, Laura Robson, said during TNT Sports’ Monday broadcast that 19-year-old Victoria Mboko would be Williams’ partner.

Before the official announcement, there was already a paper trail that suggested a return was possible. In December 2025. Williams’ name appeared on a list on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) website showing players registered in the international testing pool. The document was dated October 6, 2025.

Under tennis anti-doping rules, returning players can’t compete unless they’ve given at least six months’ written notice of their intent to return, and they must be available for testing for a six-month period before competing.

Even with those signs, Williams tried to cool expectations in public. On X. she wrote: “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. ” adding: “This wildfire is crazy.” Then. on Monday. she posted what appeared to be a cryptic video on social media. It showed her walking on a tennis court and ended with the words: “Guess everybody heard the news.”.

Soon after, Queen’s Club made it official. The club announced that Williams had been given a wild card entry into the doubles draw.

The timing also matters because the HSBC Championships are a build-up to Wimbledon. Williams has won seven singles titles, six doubles titles, and one mixed-doubles title at Wimbledon. It remains unclear whether she will play at the major this year.

Wimbledon reacted to the news with a short social media message that read: “Serena on grass” alongside a green heart emoji.

In a statement Monday. WTA tournament director Laura Robson said: “Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen. and we’re delighted that she will be making her return to tennis at the LTA’s HSBC Championships.” She added: “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 on to court at this prestigious venue – it’s very exciting for the tournament and the fans.”.

Serena Williams Queen’s Club HSBC Championships doubles grass court Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Association Laura Robson Victoria Mboko