Serena Williams will return to professional tennis next week at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club in London, playing doubles with Canadian Victoria Mboko. She has also added a second tournament to her comeback schedule: the Berlin Tennis Open, starting June 15, where she will play doubles with an as-yet unconfirmed partner [1, 2].
The 44-year-old Williams has not played a professional match since the 2022 US Open, where she said she was "evolving away" from tennis. Her return was delayed last year after reentering the anti-doping program, a requirement for competing on tour, which involves a six-month testing period [1, 2]. Former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport noted, "I'd heard last year at the US Open she wanted to play mixed [doubles]. She wasn't able to because of the drug-testing protocol," and added, "You have to think that she's going to ease her way back into singles. Then all of a sudden it's game on again for the Grand Slam race. So I'm here for it" [2].
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, remains just one title behind Margaret Court for the women's record. Her last major singles title came in 2017 [1, 2]. She appears to be building momentum ahead of Wimbledon and may seek a singles wildcard at the tournament [1, 2].
Williams said, "Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception. I'm excited to compete in front of the German fans and continue building momentum throughout the grass-court season" [1].
Her return to doubles at Queen's Club is scheduled for June 11, followed by the Berlin Tennis Open doubles starting June 15, where her partner has not yet been confirmed [1, 2].
