Tennis legend Serena Williams is set to return to competitive action nearly four years after leaving the sport.
The 44-year-old American will make her comeback at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London this June after accepting a wildcard entry into the women’s doubles event. She will partner 19-year-old Canadian star Victoria Mboko, one of the fastest-rising players on the WTA Tour.
Williams last competed professionally at the US Open in September 2022, where she lost to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round. At the time, she said she was “evolving away from tennis” rather than formally retiring from the sport.
Announcing her return on June 1, 2026, Williams shared a video on social media alongside the message: “Good news travels fast.”
In a statement released by tournament organizers, 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.”
The decision has raised questions about what may have motivated her return. Since stepping away from tennis, Williams has welcomed her second daughter, expanded her business interests and focused on family life. However, many fans believe her competitive ambitions may still be a factor.
Williams holds 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the highest total by any woman in the Open Era and one short of Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24. In a 2022 interview with Vogue, Williams acknowledged her desire to surpass the record.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record,” she said at the time.
Former world No. 1 John McEnroe believes the pursuit of another major title could be behind the comeback.
“If Serena Williams is coming back, she’s not coming back because she’s happy to play,” McEnroe said on TNT Sports. “She wants to win another major. That’s the only reason I can think that she would want to play tennis again.”
Her return has also increased speculation about a possible appearance at Wimbledon, which begins later this month. Williams has enjoyed some of the greatest moments of her career on the grass courts of the All England Club, winning seven Wimbledon singles titles and seven doubles titles.
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman said Queen’s could be part of her preparation for another Wimbledon campaign.
“If she’s going to play at Queen’s, then you would have thought that the motivation is to get ready for Wimbledon,” Henman told Sky Sports.
Serena Williams’ comeback will begin in doubles, a format that places fewer physical demands on players returning after a long absence.
