(VIDEO) Serena Williams sharp in Queen’s hitting session ahead of competitive return

Serena Williams, former world No. 1, is ready to mark her return to the court and today completed her first official training session at Queen’s Club Championships. The 23-time Grand Slam champion was accompanied by her doubles partner Victoria Mboko just days before the start of the grass-court swing.

Since late 2025, there had been speculation about Williams’ return to the courts, especially after reports that she was included in the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) anti-doping testing pool for the first time since 2022, making her eligible again to compete in WTA tournaments.

However, she still had to wait several months — a six-month period from registration — to complete her return process. The 44-year-old opted to remain silent during that period, fuelling uncertainty over whether she was actually planning a comeback, something that was only confirmed days ago after the announcement of a wildcard from the HSBC Championships at Queen’s.

The former world No. 1 will compete in doubles at Queen’s, which will be her first official match since returning to the Tour. She will partner with Canadian player Victoria Mboko, 19, who was still a junior at the time of Williams’ retirement at the 2022 US Open.

Williams’ arrival at Queen’s has generated significant attention, with early videos already circulating of her hitting on grass courts. Her professional return in London has become one of the main talking points ahead of the grass season.

“Serena is one of the greatest athletes of all-time, with a legacy that extends far beyond the court,” said WTA Chair Valerie Camillo. “Her return is an expression of her passion for competition, and I cannot wait to see her face a new generation of top players. Serena is not just a great champion.”

“She’s a successful entrepreneur, a powerful advocate for the issues that matter — and one of the most iconic women in the world. We are thrilled to welcome her back to the WTA Tour at this hugely exciting moment for women’s tennis.”

At 44 years old, Williams is also expected to feature in other tournaments, with many already anticipating wildcard entries for Wimbledon — where she has won seven Grand Slam titles — and the US Open, where she lifted six more.

Williams joins a growing list of former world No. 1 players who have returned to competition after becoming mothers. That group includes names such as Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber.