Serena Williams is back. And for one night, time stood still in London.
There are comebacks that feel like PR exercises. Then there are the ones that jolt sports fans awake. On Tuesday night at Queen’s, Serena Williams stepped back onto a professional court for the first time in nearly four years after putting her racket away. At 44, the American returned to official competition in doubles alongside Canada’s Victoria Mboko. And, as so often with Serena, it ended with a win.
Against specialists Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, the tournament’s third seeds, the Williams-Mboko pairing came through in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2, after 1h30 of play. It was a result that mattered, sure, but the bigger picture told the real story. Because beyond the scoreline, it was Serena’s presence that lit up Queen’s. The stands were packed long before the first ball. Every warm-up was watched. Every serve drew a reaction. Nobody wanted to miss a second of a return many had written off as impossible.
A few errors, some rust to shake off… but still that unmistakable aura
Of course, it wasn’t perfect. After forty-five months away from the tour, there were moments that showed the lack of match sharpness. A few loose positions, a few exchanges where the old instincts took their time to kick in, but there was plenty else too. The power was still brutal. Serves touching 200 km/h. That knack for turning it up when the point matters most. And above all, that presence that changes the feel of a tennis court the second she walks on it.
Alongside Victoria Mboko, one of the brightest young players of her generation, Serena Williams brought her experience at the key moments. The first-set tie-break, especially, was a reminder of why she remains one of the most feared competitors in sport history. Time and again, the London crowd got a taste of the old thrill. The looks, the steps to the net, the clenched fists after big points. For one night, the legend never really left.
Try it for $0.99.
Queen’s may only have been the start
This win does not guarantee anything down the line, of course. Serena Williams has already said she will continue her grass-court build-up in Berlin next week. That leaves one question hanging in the air, even if nobody quite wants to say it out loud. Is Wimbledon part of the plan? Nobody knows yet. But it’s hard not to wonder when you’re talking about a player who lifted the singles trophy seven times on London’s grass.
For now, one thing is certain. After nearly four years away, Serena Williams has rediscovered the taste for competition. And judging by the smiles in the Queen’s stands, tennis needed Serena back just as much as Serena needed tennis.
Discover the rest of the tennis news on our mathodds website and app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply