Serena Williams’ return took a hit Tuesday at the Berlin Open after pairing with Karolina Muchova for a first-round doubles loss to Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe.
Berlin looked ready to celebrate Serena Williams again, and for a while it did.
On Tuesday, the Steffi Graf Stadion filled quickly as fans streamed in—snacking and drinking outside while the center court grew louder by the minute. When Williams took her place, she was met with a huge roar and applause, the kind reserved for a main attraction arriving sooner than many expected.
But the comeback didn’t last long on court. In her opening-round doubles match at the WTA 500 grass-court tournament, Williams and Karolina Muchova were beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe, ending Williams’ involvement in the Berlin Open at the first stage.
Still, the loss didn’t erase what had brought so many people to the venue. It was her second appearance since she returned to professional competition with a win at Queen’s Club last week in London. That Queen’s Club outing had been Williams’ first professional match since the 2022 U.S. Open.
The 44-year-old’s presence has also already shifted attention toward what’s next. Earlier Tuesday. Wimbledon organizers announced that Williams—along with her older sister Venus. who turns 46 on Wednesday—had been granted a doubles wild-card invitation for Wimbledon. with the tournament starting in less than two weeks.
The contrast on Tuesday was striking: a stadium ready to cheer, a crowd that felt the moment, and then the scoreboard delivering a prompt reminder that every return match carries pressure—especially on the grass, where margins are thin and the next ball arrives fast.
Serena Williams Berlin Open WTA 500 doubles Karolina Muchova Giuliana Olmos Erin Routliffe Wimbledon Venus Williams wild-card invitation