Serena Williams returns: 23-time Grand Slam champion to play at Queen’s Club
Tennis legend Serena Williams has announced a sensational return to professional tennis, ending her three-year hiatus from the sport in one of the most high-profile comebacks in modern tennis history.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion confirmed she will compete in the doubles event at the 2026 HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London, marking her first professional appearance since the 2022 US Open.
Return confirmed at Queen’s Club
Williams, 44, revealed her comeback via social media and a promotional campaign, confirming she has accepted a wildcard entry into the WTA 500 event held from June 8–14.
The tournament at Queen’s Club, officially known as the HSBC Championships, will serve as her first competitive test in what could become a broader return to elite tennis.
Organisers confirmed Williams is expected to compete in doubles, with reports linking her to a potential partnership with rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko.
“A New Chapter Begins”
Williams described Queen’s Club as the ideal setting for her return, highlighting her strong emotional connection to grass-court tennis.
Grass has produced some of her most iconic achievements, including multiple Wimbledon triumphs, and she made clear her excitement at returning to competition on the surface.
Her statement underlined both nostalgia and ambition, suggesting a competitive motivation rather than a ceremonial appearance.
Six months of anti-doping testing required
Before returning to competition, Williams completed the mandatory six-month reinstatement period in tennis’ anti-doping testing pool under the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
She re-entered the testing system last year, a key procedural step required for any professional return to the WTA Tour.
Potential Wimbledon return looms
Her comeback at Queen’s Club opens the door to a possible appearance at Wimbledon 2026, where Williams has enjoyed historic success.
She has won seven Wimbledon singles titles and remains one of the most decorated players in the tournament’s history.
The grass-court swing could therefore become a defining early phase of her return.
One of the Greatest Careers in Tennis History
Williams remains one of the most dominant athletes in sport, with:
- 23 Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era
- 858 career singles wins
- 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with sister Venus Williams
- Six US Open singles titles
She last competed professionally in 2022, when she exited the US Open before stepping away from the tour.
Her return at 44 places her among a rare group of elite athletes who have competed at the highest level in their 40s.
While confirmation currently extends only to Queen’s Club doubles, speculation is growing around potential appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open later in the season.
The tennis world now turns its attention to London, where one of the sport’s greatest champions begins an unexpected new chapter.
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