Serena Williams Plans Shock Return At Queen’s Doubles Event

Serena Williams is in talks to return to competitive tennis at Queen’s Club next month, four years after what was thought to be her final match.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, now 44, is considering playing doubles at the WTA 500 grass-court event in London, which begins on Monday, 8 June. Nothing has been finalised, but Williams became eligible to compete again on 22 February after completing six months back in the sport’s drug testing pool.

She would need a wildcard for the tournament, and two are available for the doubles draw. According to the Served podcast hosted by Andy Roddick, Williams plans to partner 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko—though BBC Sport has not confirmed this.

Williams famously rejected the word “retirement” in 2022, saying she was “evolving away” from tennis. Her last match was a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic at the 2022 US Open.

The potential comeback follows months of speculation and interviews about her weight loss. Last year, Williams told the Today Show she had lost 31lb (14kg) over eight months, training five hours daily while also using a weight-loss drug through Ro, a company she now represents as a spokesperson. Her husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, is an investor.

While the Lawn Tennis Association typically prioritises British players for wildcards, chief executive Scott Lloyd acknowledged “exceptional circumstances might influence a unique wildcard” for doubles. Performance director Michael Bourne added that commercial opportunities could also play a role.

If Williams returns, Wimbledon—where she has won seven singles and seven doubles titles—would begin just three weeks later. Her sister Venus, 45, continues to play on the WTA Tour and has already competed in seven tournaments this year.