“I got tired of sitting at home”: Serena Williams explains comeback after Queen’s win

Serena Williams said she “got tired of sitting at home” after returning to competitive tennis with a winning performance at Queen’s Club, where she partnered Victoria Mboko to claim a straight-sets doubles victory after a four-year absence from the tour.

The 44-year-old American competed for the first time since the 2022 US Open, marking 1,375 days away from professional tennis. Her comeback ended in a 7-6(2), 6-2 win over third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in the opening round of the Queen’s Club Championships.

Williams had not played since stepping away from the sport in 2022 after a 27-year career in which she won 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Her return had been anticipated after she re-entered the anti-doping testing pool and was later listed on the ITIA reinstatement register.

The focus after the match remained on the return itself rather than the result, with both Williams and Mboko reflecting on the unexpected nature of their partnership and the experience of competing together for the first time.

Williams was direct when asked why she chose to return to competition after such a long absence, linking the decision to life away from the tour rather than any structured comeback plan. “I don’t know. I had nothing better to do. I got tired of sitting at home. My kids are out of school for the summer, so why not?”

The statement framed her return as informal and situational, contrasting with the highly structured nature of her previous seasons on tour. It also aligned with earlier comments from Williams that she had been “evolving away” from tennis rather than formally retiring.

On court, she showed signs of early rust, including a missed close-range volley, but gradually increased her influence through serve and net play. The match tightened into a first-set tie-break, which Williams and Mboko controlled before closing out the second set more comfortably.

“It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Vicky. She really was able to hold up the team and play big on the big points and I could really rely on her. We’ve never played together but it just felt so natural playing with her, so it was actually really fun.”

Victoria Mboko, 18, played a key supporting role in the upset victory, particularly in baseline exchanges and pressure points during the opening set. The Canadian described the experience as a major milestone in her early career, highlighting the significance of partnering a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion.

“First of all, I feel very honored to play with you, Serena. It’s such a privilege to play beside you. I had a lot of fun, if anything. We really did that out there so I’m so happy to be playing beside you and we’re going for more.”

The pair had never competed together prior to Queen’s Club, yet quickly established a functional partnership against a seeded team with established doubles experience. Mboko repeatedly emphasised enjoyment and the learning aspect of the occasion rather than the result itself.

Williams, meanwhile, credited Mboko’s level in key moments, noting the teenager’s ability to stabilise the match during high-pressure exchanges and contribute decisively in the tie-break. “It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Vicky. She really was able to hold up the team and play big on the big points and I could really rely on her.”

The match also marked Williams’ first appearance at Queen’s Club, a venue she had never competed at during her main singles career due to the historical absence of a women’s event. The inclusion of a women’s draw allowed her to finally play at one of tennis’ most established grass-court venues.

“Yeah, I never got to play here. It was always just the men. But it feels really special to play at someplace so iconic that I saw so many of my friends win and do well in and just watch so many great matches. So it’s kind of cool.”

Williams’ return came amid significant anticipation following her re-entry into the sport’s testing pool and subsequent confirmation of her doubles wildcard entry with Mboko. While she has not committed to a full schedule, she remains entered for the Berlin Open next week, with Wimbledon participation still unconfirmed.

Mboko and Williams advance to the next round of the doubles draw, extending one of the most closely watched storylines of the grass-court season.