“It’s really about my kids getting to see me play”: Serena Williams shifts focus before Queen's comeback

Serena Williams has confirmed a competitive return to tennis at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London, marking her first official appearance since her 2022 US Open campaign. The former world No. 1 will compete in doubles alongside Canadian player Victoria Mboko, entering the draw via wildcard as part of a limited grass-court schedule.

Williams framed the return not as a career restart, but as a flexible and exploratory decision made after discussions about alternative possibilities. “I was just talking to a few people and just chatting about different possibilities of just having fun and something a little bit different,” the 23-time Grand Slam champion said..

The American, who has not played on the WTA Tour since 2022, also addressed the shift in mindset compared to earlier stages of her career. “This whole journey is like I'm putting no pressure on myself. I've had enough pressure,” she said, summarising the tone of her comeback approach.

Her participation at Queen’s is being followed by a planned appearance at the Berlin Tennis Open, extending her return into the broader grass-court swing. While singles has not been ruled out entirely, Williams emphasised that her focus remains on doubles and controlled match exposure.

Williams’ central theme throughout her return is the removal of competitive pressure, a marked contrast with her career-long identity as one of the sport’s most dominant figures. She explicitly rejected performance expectations, instead framing the comeback as a personal and family-oriented experience.

“This whole journey is like I'm putting no pressure on myself,” Serena Williams said. “I've had enough pressure and for me right now it's really just about, I don't know, it's so many elements. It's really about my kids getting to see me play.”

“I mean, Olympia is a little bit older, Adira is very young, but it's also still moments like that. It's also just an athlete is like the best thing that you can be in the highest place and having an opportunity to still be able to possibly do that one last time is kind of cool and exc

She added that the decision to return was not driven by competitive necessity, but by timing and personal circumstances. “In December I definitely was not [returning], and then I was just talking to a few people… and then I was like, well, why not, for lack of a better explanation.”

Williams also addressed expectations regarding outcomes, making clear that winning is no longer a central metric in her approach. “I don’t need to win. I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives. So for me, that is not important to me.”

The Queen’s appearance will see Williams compete exclusively in doubles, where she has partnered with Victoria Mboko, a rising Canadian player who has attracted attention for her rapid development on tour. Williams described observing Mboko’s consistency and competitive response as key factors in the pairing decision.

“Yeah, I saw her play. And I was quite impressed with her game. I was impressed with her attitude. What I liked the most about her was that the next time she played, she still kept winning. And so it's like, OK, I love that. You know, it reminded me a lot of myse

She expanded on the nature of the decision-making process behind the partnership, highlighting that it was structured but finalised late in the entry window. “It wasn’t a last-minute decision, but it was a last-minute commitment. I decided a while ago, but I didn’t actually commit to it until pretty 11th hour.”

On court, Williams described the early training sessions as increasingly positive, noting incremental improvement in rhythm and execution. “I feel like it feels good. I hit with Vicky twice and I felt a lot better off the ground, I felt a lot better everywhere,” she said, adding, “it’s riding a bike up a hill, but enjoying the ride.”

Williams also reflected on her broader relationship with tennis after years away from competition, highlighting how distance has reshaped her perception of the sport. Having competed professionally since childhood, she noted that stepping away has revealed aspects of the game and lifestyle previously taken for granted.

“I think the biggest thing I've missed is just the atmosphere. You don't really think about travel—I love traveling—but you don't really think about how much you love things. It's interesting though, because I've done it literally my entire life. And when you stop something you've done since, honestly I don't even remember a start date, I think you kind of take it for granted.”

Her final framing of competition was notably direct, rejecting any residual pressure to reassert dominance. “I don’t have anything to prove. I don’t have anything to lose. And everything here is just a game.”