Tennis legend Serena Williams announced her return to competitive play at 44 years old, accepting a wildcard invitation to compete in doubles at Queen’s Club Championships in London this month, according to a club announcement Monday.
Williams, who captured 23 Grand Slam titles during her career, stepped away from the WTA Tour in September 2022 following a third-round defeat at the U.S. Open, marking her retirement from professional tennis.
“Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter. Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I’m excited to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages,” Williams was quoted as saying.
WTA chair Valerie Camillo expressed enthusiasm about Williams’ comeback decision.
“Serena is one of the greatest athletes of all-time, with a legacy that extends far beyond the court… I cannot wait to see her face a new generation of top players,” Camillo said in a statement.
“We are thrilled to welcome her back to the WTA Tour at this hugely exciting moment for women’s tennis.”
Speculation about Williams’ potential return began last year when she rejoined the sport’s anti-doping testing program. The rumors gained momentum after she avoided directly answering comeback questions during an NBC interview.
Novak Djokovic suggested in March that Williams might target Wimbledon for her return, while her former coach Rick Macci indicated she was “going all out” in training preparations for a comeback to the sport she and her sister Venus controlled for twenty years. Venus captured seven Grand Slam championships during her career.
Venus, who is 15 months older than Serena, continues competing and participated in the Australian Open in January through a wildcard entry.
