Serena Williams shocks tennis world with comeback announcement nearly four years after retirement

Tennis great Serena Williams is set to make a surprise return to competitive action at the age of 44, with Queen’s Club confirming that the 23-time Grand Slam champion has been awarded a wildcard entry into the doubles draw for this month’s tournament in London.

Williams has not competed on the WTA Tour since September 2022, when she bowed out of professional tennis following a third-round defeat at the US Open.

Describing her return as the start of a “new chapter,” Williams said Queen’s Club was the ideal venue for her comeback.

“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,” she said.

WTA chairperson Valeria Camillo welcomed the announcement, praising Williams’ impact on the sport and beyond.

“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, adding that the tour was “thrilled to welcome her back.”

Speculation about a comeback intensified after Williams re-entered the anti-doping testing pool last year. While she avoided directly addressing the rumours at the time, her return to competition now appears confirmed.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in tennis history, Williams spent 319 weeks as the WTA world No. 1 and finished as the year-end No. 1 on five occasions. Her remarkable career includes 73 WTA singles titles and a record 23 Grand Slam singles crowns in the Open Era.

She is also the only player to complete a Career Grand Slam in both singles and doubles, winning 14 women’s doubles Grand Slam titles alongside her sister, Venus Williams.

Earlier this year, Novak Djokovic hinted that a comeback could be on the cards. Speaking at Indian Wells, the Serbian star said he believed Williams might return to the sport, potentially in doubles competition.

“She’s one of the greatest athletes. It would be great to have her back,” Djokovic said.