London, 10 June (H.S.): Tennis legend Serena Williams made a memorable return to professional tennis after nearly four years, registering an impressive doubles victory on Tuesday at the Queen’s Club grass-court tournament. The American star teamed up with 19-year-old Canadian player Victoria Mboko to win her first match back on the professional circuit.

The Serena-Mboko pair defeated the third-seeded duo of Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2), 6-2. The match marked Serena’s first professional appearance since the 2022 US Open. During the contest, Serena delivered serves reaching speeds of up to 120 mph and struck several powerful winners. She finished the match in trademark fashion—with two aces and a superb service winner.

Speaking on court after the victory, Serena said, “It was so much fun. I really enjoyed playing with Victoria. We had never played together before, but everything felt very natural on the court.” However, she remained modest about her performance during the post-match press conference. In a light-hearted assessment, she gave herself a “C-minus” grade, while acknowledging that returning directly to grass-court competition after four years away was never going to be easy. Overall, she felt pleased with her display.

Serena remarked, “I never had the opportunity to play here before because it was always a men’s event. Competing at such a prestigious venue has been a very special experience.” Praising her young partner Victoria Mboko, Serena said, “I thought she moved exceptionally well. There was one backhand shot that even surprised me.” Looking ahead, Serena added, “Right now, I’m taking things one day at a time. There’s still some time before I make any decisions.”

The significance of Serena’s comeback was heightened by the strength of the opposition. Erin Routliffe is a two-time US Open doubles champion, while Nicole Melichar-Martinez has reached the doubles finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open. Although Serena showed occasional signs of rust, she also demonstrated at several moments that she still possesses the ability to compete at the highest level.

Fans at Queen's Club gave Serena a rousing reception. She received the loudest applause of the day inside the Andy Murray Arena. Earlier, spectators had also watched matches featuring Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter. This was Serena’s first appearance at Queen’s Club, a historic venue that hosted only men’s tournaments for many years before women’s competition returned in 2025.

Among those watching from the stands was Serena’s friend, skiing star Lindsey Vonn. Serena’s two daughters, Olympia and Adira, were also present. For Adira, it was the first time she had ever seen her mother compete on a tennis court.

Serena is now scheduled to play another doubles event at the Berlin Open next week. However, she has not yet decided whether she will participate in Wimbledon Championships, which begins on June 29.

Over the course of her illustrious career, Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, including seven Wimbledon crowns. She has also captured 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside her elder sister, Venus Williams.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar