Tennis legend Serena Williams is set to make her long-awaited return to competitive action next week, with organizers confirming she will compete in the doubles event at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London.
Williams, now 44 years old, has not played a professional match since 2022 and has remained away from the sport for nearly four years.
Although she never formally announced her retirement, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion stepped away from competition after the US Open, describing her decision at the time as “evolving away from tennis.”
Speaking ahead of her comeback, Williams expressed her excitement about returning to a venue she believes is the ideal setting for a new chapter in her career.
Williams said in a statement released by the Lawn Tennis Association. “Queens 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.”
Williams’ last appearance came at the 2022 US Open, where she was defeated by Australian player Ajla Tomljanović in the third round.
The HSBC Championships begin on June 6 with women’s qualifying matches, while the main draw starts on June 8. Williams will compete in the doubles tournament, marking her first competitive appearance since leaving the tour.
The grass-court event serves as a key warm-up for Wimbledon Championships, where Williams enjoyed some of the greatest success of her career. She captured seven singles titles, six doubles crowns, and one mixed doubles title at the All England Club.
It remains unclear whether Williams plans to compete at Wimbledon later this year, but her return at Queen’s Club has already generated significant excitement among tennis fans.
