Judy Murray impressed by Serena Williams produced on return to court: "She showed that she’s still playing at a remarkably high level"

Serena Williams currently the main attraction on court. While unforeseen circumstances have halted her return to action cruelly short at Queen's Club Championships, she has shown her capabilities back out there, with Judy Murray among the names delighted to see her back.

Partnering up with Victoria Mboko, the 23-time Grand Slam champion showed her worth at Queen’s in the doubles. While there were elements of rustiness expected when you have not competed since 2022, she was still playing at a high level in parts while putting on a show for the crowd.

She and Mboko were handed a tricky task in the form of number three seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, but managed to prevail 7-6(2), 6-2.

Murray, the mother to former British tennis players Andy and Jamie Murray, spoke on Sky Sports following the Williams win. She was hugely impressed with how fit she looked while sharing her surprise, much like many, for this unexpected comeback.

“I’m not sure that anybody expected her to come back when she retired, I think it was back in 2022,” she said. “She has her two children now, but she’s been playing a load; she’s obviously got herself into really good shape, fit, ready to compete again.”

She was in awe of her husband and kids being courtside after the win, sparking heartwarming scenes for the family. “I saw a clip where she was saying that it was really important to her that her kids saw her playing, so they knew who she was and what she did. I absolutely loved the fact that her husband and her kids were courtside and greeted her when she came off.”

Murray expressed her happiness to see Williams still a threat on the tennis court. “But she showed that she’s still playing at a remarkably high level, playing doubles with Victoria Mboko at the WTA event in Queen’s, and winning her first match,” she exclaimed. “And huge crowd support there, and huge fan base behind her, it’s great, another mum coming back into the game successfully, brilliant.”

Unfortunately, her time competing at Queen’s has come to a very abrupt end in circumstances out of her own hands.

Mboko was competing against former Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova in the singles and made a poor start by losing the first set. She fought her way back in the second before taking a nasty tumble to the ground, crying out in pain with a left knee injury the thing putting a halt to proceedings.

She left the court very emotional with there a lot of concern surrounding the Canadia. This injury has been brutal enough to see her forced to skip Wimbledon this year, unable to return to better her second round result from her debut campaign in gut-wrenching fashion.

While all this has gone on, she has been forced to pull out of the doubles as a subsequent result to this. It is a bitter blow for the tennis fans who wanted to see Williams play more, and for the 44-year-old too who seemed to be loving life back on court.

This is not the end by any stretch. Her comeback continues on grass at the Berlin Open. Partnering Karolina Muchova, the duo will compete in the doubles event as Williams ramps up her preparation for a possible return to Wimbledon.