Serena Williams is poised to make her return to professional tennis, but this time it will be in the doubles format. The legendary 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has confirmed her participation in two upcoming tournaments, signalling a new chapter in her storied career.
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Williams, 44, recently addressed her plans at a press conference held on Sunday, June 7, where she revealed that she is open to the possibility of returning to competitive singles play in the future. “I can’t say no right now,” she stated, suggesting that further training may be required before she commits to that level of competition. “We will see if I get there, and if not… that’s not my journey right now,” she added.
Her announcement comes on the heels of a decision made on June 1 to re-enter the world of tennis. Williams will feature at the WTA 500 Queen’s Club event, a traditional warm-up tournament leading up to Wimbledon, which is set to commence on June 8 in London. In this tournament, she is set to team up with young Canadian player Victoria Mboko, aged 19. Their first match will be against the duo of Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez on June 9.
In addition to competing at Queen’s, Williams will also participate in the Berlin Tennis Open, which begins on June 15. The tournament has confirmed her entry, although her doubles partner for this event has yet to be revealed. Speaking on her excitement, Williams mentioned, “Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception,” expressing anticipation for competing in front of a German audience.
The former world number one has not played a competitive match since the 2022 U.S. Open, where she made the poignant announcement of her decision to step away from professional tennis. While she did not explicitly announce her retirement, she spoke of “evolving away from tennis,” offering a hint that her future role in the sport could look different.
In preparations for her return, Williams quietly re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) registered drug testing pool last year — a necessary step for athletes looking to compete after retirement. An ITIA spokesperson confirmed her return to the testing pool, noting the requirement for athletes to be available for testing for a minimum of six months prior to returning to competition, in line with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines.
Last December, Williams took to social media to refute growing speculation regarding her comeback. In a post on X, she emphatically declared, “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back,” dismissing the swirling narratives that had enveloped her name in light of her re-entry into testing protocols.
As she prepares for her imminent matches, Williams has shifted her focus from the pressure of winning to enjoying the overall experience of competing. Ahead of her appearance at the Queen’s Club, she remarked, “I don’t need to win. I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives, so it’s not that important to me.” This perspective underscores her seasoned approach to the sport, reflecting a desire for personal growth rather than the pursuit of accolades.
In conclusion, as Serena Williams steps back onto the tennis court after nearly four years away, the tennis community watches with great interest. Whether she will return to singles competition remains uncertain, but for the moment, her foray into doubles promises to be a significant moment in her journey, revitalising the sport for fans and players alike.