Serena Williams has confirmed she will return to competitive tennis after nearly four years away from the sport, with the American icon scheduled to feature in the women’s doubles event at Queen’s Club later this month.
The 44-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in tennis history, has not competed since her third-round exit at the 2022 U.S. Open, bringing an end to what many believed was the final chapter of her professional career.
A 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, Williams announced her comeback on Monday through a short video post showing her back on court.
In the clip, she appears dressed in an all-white Nike tennis outfit, while a phone notification sound plays repeatedly in the background. She captioned the post: “Good news travels fast.”
Her return had been the subject of speculation in recent months, especially after she re-entered the sport’s anti-doping programme in December, a mandatory requirement for any player intending to compete on the professional tour again.
At the time, Williams publicly dismissed suggestions of a comeback, writing on social media: “Omg y’all, I’m NOT coming back.
‘:This wildfire is crazy.” However, her latest announcement confirms she has reversed course.
She is expected to partner with rising Canadian player Victoria Mboko in the women’s doubles draw at the Queen’s Club Championships in London.
The tournament’s women’s event is scheduled to begin on June 8.
Williams described Queen’s Club as a fitting stage for her return, noting the significance of grass-court tennis in her career.
She 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.”
Her comeback has also been welcomed by tournament officials.
WTA tournament director Laura Robson described her return as a major boost for the event, saying: “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.
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.”
Williams had previously hinted at stepping away from the sport in 2022, stating she preferred the term “evolving” rather than “retiring” as she transitioned away from professional tennis.
Her record remains one of the most dominant in the sport’s modern era.
With 23 Grand Slam singles titles, she sits just one behind Australian legend Margaret Court, who holds 24, the most in women’s tennis history.
