Serena Williams returns to big tennis and will play at a tournament in London
Legendary American tennis player, 44-year-old Serena Williams will return to big tennis and will compete in June in the doubles event at the prestigious WTA 500 tournament at London's Queen's Club. This was announced by the tournament organizers, writes the BBC.
Serena Williams. Photo: AP Photo / Dita Alangkara
«23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams announced today her return to professional tennis; her debut will take place this summer at the HSBC Championships in London,» the organizers' statement reads.
Williams has not appeared on court since her defeat in the third round of the US Open in 2022.
The tournament will start on June 8. The organizers granted Williams a wild card. It is expected that she will play in doubles with 19-year-old Canadian tennis player Victoria Mboka.
«Queen's Club seems like the ideal place to begin this new chapter. The grass court has given me some of the most significant moments in my career, and I am excited to return to competition at one of the most iconic venues in the sport,» the organizers quoted Williams herself.
Rumors of Serena's return began circulating last year when her name appeared on the list of players registered for doping control.
On Monday, she posted a video on social media of herself walking onto the court, with the caption: «I guess everyone has already heard the news.»
In 27 years of competing, Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam tournaments, which is a record for the Open Era in tennis, which began in 1968. Before that, Australian Margaret Court achieved 24 victories.
In addition to singles titles, Serena, along with her sister Venus, won 14 Grand Slam doubles tournaments. Furthermore, the sisters won the Olympic Games three times in doubles, and in London in 2012, Serena added singles gold to that collection.
Three weeks after the tournament at London's Queen's Club, Wimbledon will begin. To play in that tournament as well, if she wishes, Serena will again need a wild card, but it is quite possible that Wimbledon organizers will be happy to see the superstar on their courts again.
Three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe said that, in his opinion, this would be a logical next step.
«If Serena Williams, the greatest tennis player of all time, is returning, then she's not returning just to play – she wants to win a major tournament again,» McEnroe said. «I can't think of any other reasons for her to return to tennis.»
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