Serena Williams has begun ramping up for a remarkable comeback from retirement, working on the grass practice courts at Queen’s Club with doubles partner Victoria Mboko on Thursday.
Mboko shared a photo on Instagram showing her standing alongside Williams at one of the venue’s courts, with the pair preparing ahead of next week’s tournament.
Quick facts
- Serena Williams began preparations for a comeback with Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club on Thursday.
- Williams will return at the Wimbledon warm-up event in west London next week.
- Mboko confirmed she will play women’s doubles with Williams.
- Williams has been out of competition since the US Open in 2022.
- Williams and Mboko received a wild card into the 16-team Queen’s Club doubles draw.
- Williams has a 192-35 doubles record and 22 titles from 23 career finals, including 14 Grand Slam doubles crowns with Venus Williams.
- Wimbledon is scheduled to begin on June 29.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, this week confirmed that her unexpected return will be staged at the Wimbledon warm-up event in west London.
Mboko, who will play alongside the American in women’s doubles, wrote: “The Queen is back! An honour to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week.”
She added: “Even more excited to play doubles together! Tennis is pretty special.”
At 44, Williams is a quarter of a century older than Mboko, who is 19 and from Canada. Mboko was named WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2025.
The 44-year-old has not competed since what appeared to be the end of her extraordinary career following the US Open in 2022.
However, Williams never used the term “retirement,” instead saying she was “evolving away” from tennis.
After months of speculation about a potential return, Williams formally announced her comeback on Monday. She has two young children with husband Alexis Ohanian.
Speaking about the choice of venue, Williams said: “Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter.”
She continued: “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 and Mboko have been granted a wild card into the 16-team doubles field at Queen’s Club.
In doubles, Williams compiled a remarkable 192-35 career record and captured 22 titles from 23 finals. She also won many of her biggest moments alongside sister Venus Williams.
Together, the pair won all 14 of their Grand Slam doubles finals.
With Wimbledon set to start on June 29, Williams has not yet indicated whether her comeback will extend to singles competition as well.
Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, has not added a Grand Slam singles title since the 2017 Australian Open.
