Serena Williams to return to tennis at Queen’s Club

Web Desk

LONDON: Serena Williams confirmed her return to tennis on Monday after an absence of nearly four years, with the American great set to compete in women’s doubles at Queen’s Club next week.

The 44-year-old, who has not played competitively since the 2022 US Open, has been granted a wild card for the London tournament, which starts on June 8. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion will reportedly play alongside teenage Canadian Victoria Mboko. Rumours have swirled in recent months that the former world number one was on the verge of a return and Monday’s confirmation sent the tennis world into a frenzy. Williams shared a video on social media of herself on a tennis court containing the caption: “Guess everybody heard the news”, with her phone buzzing repeatedly in the background. A post from the seven-time Wimbledon champion alongside the video said: “Good news travels fast.”

Tournament chiefs said her return would be “one of the biggest sporting moments of the year so far”. “Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter,” Williams said in a statement from organisers. “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.” Queen’s WTA tournament director Laura Robson described Williams as “one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen”.

Edited by Sumayyah Ahmad

Editor/Reporter

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