Serena Williams Queen’s Club Comeback: The Inside Story Behind the 23-Time Grand Slam Champion’s Return to Tennis

The confirmation that Serena Williams would return to competitive tennis at the WTA 500 event at Queen’s Club in London did not arrive without warning for those closest to the story. As far back as mid-May, individuals familiar with preparations for the tournament had indicated that a wildcard request from the 23-time Grand Slam champion was close to being formalised — information that circulated quietly among a small number of people before reaching the wider public.

It was US journalist Jon Wertheim who first disclosed the news publicly, revealing Williams’ planned doubles appearance on Andy Roddick’s Served podcast. The official confirmation followed on a Tuesday, with a coordinated announcement that included a video posted by Williams on her social media platforms, alongside statements from both the WTA and the LTA, the London-based organisation hosting the Queen’s Club tournament.

Queen’s Club was not the only option under consideration. According to Tennis365, Williams submitted wildcard requests for several grass-court events, including the WTA 500 tournament in Berlin later in June. The delay in making the announcement public was attributed to the Williams camp requiring time to coordinate the rollout of the news across multiple channels and stakeholders.

The roadmap beyond Queen’s Club, should Williams come through the doubles competition without injury, points toward Berlin and then a singles appearance at Wimbledon. Tennis365 understands that singles at Wimbledon represents the broader target within her return plan, with the doubles outings serving as competitive preparation after more than four years away from the sport.

Williams, who turned 44 this year and is a mother of two, re-entered the tennis doping control testing pool at the end of last year — a procedural requirement that signalled her intention to return to competition well before any public announcement was made. Her doubles partner at Queen’s Club will be Victoria Mboko.

Her former long-time coach Patrick Mouratoglou offered insight into the thinking behind the phased return. “Serena has shown me so many times that she’s capable of doing things that are theoretically impossible,” Mouratoglou told TNT Sports. “I believe she’s capable of anything — that’s the first thing.”

Mouratoglou continued: “I think she wants to test herself in doubles first. That’s probably why she requested a wildcard in doubles, and if she’s satisfied with her level, maybe she’ll request a wildcard in singles at Wimbledon. That doesn’t seem like a likely scenario to me, but Serena isn’t the kind of person who would come back if she didn’t feel capable of playing and beating the best. If it means playing a supporting role, that’s just not her style. I think this doubles match is also a way for her to see if she feels capable of beating the best. Doubles isn’t the same as singles, of course, but it’s already a first taste of competition.”

The Queen’s Club grass-court event is only in its second year on the WTA calendar, having been established by the LTA as part of efforts to expand the women’s grass-court swing ahead of Wimbledon. Williams’ participation represents a significant profile boost for the tournament at an early stage of its development.

The return has drawn widespread attention across the tennis world. Tim Henman has been asked publicly whether Williams could extend her comeback to Wimbledon, while world number two Coco Gauff was among the players to react to the announcement. Separately, John McEnroe has stated his view on the motivations driving Williams back to competitive tennis.

Williams last competed professionally in 2022, announcing her intention to step away from the sport following a first-round exit at that year’s US Open. Her return at 44, pursuing a record-extending 24th Grand Slam singles title, would be one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of professional sport.