Serena’s doubles partner confirms ‘special’ comeback before Wimbledon | Tennis | Sport
Canadian star Victoria Mboko has confirmed that she will play doubles with tennis great Serena Williams at Queens next week. It was confirmed on Monday that the American will make her comeback on the grass courts of west London after four years out of the game.
Williams has not played a professional match since losing to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 US Open. That was expected to be her final match after a glittering career which included seven Australian Opens, three French Opens, seven Wimbledons and six US Opens. Her tally of 23 Grand Slam singles titles is only bettered by Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic.
However, she is now preparing a sensational comeback with new doubles partner Mboko posting on Instagram a picture of her with the Grand Slam legend on the Queens practice courts.
She said: “The Queen is back. An honor to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week. Even more excited to play doubles together! Tennis is pretty special.”
Williams never specifically stated that she would be retiring four years ago – instead saying she is “evolving away” from tennis. It followed her being unable to add to her Grand Slam tally since lifting the 2017 Australian Open – beating sister Venus in the final.
But hints over the 44-year-old returning to the professional game emerged in December last year after she was back on the list of players registered for the drug testing pool. Just hours after it emerged she had re-entered the sport’s registered drug testing pool, Williams posted on social media: “I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy”.
However, despite her denial last year, the LTA confirmed earlier this week that Williams had been granted a wildcard into the doubles event of the WTA 500 event at Queen’s.
The American tennis legend said: “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.”
Meanwhile, tournament director Laura Robson, a retired former British No. 1, said: “Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, and we’re delighted that she will be making her return to tennis at the LTA’s HSBC Championships.
“Women’s tennis made a historic return to The Queen’s Club last year, and now we have an icon of the game stepping back on to court at this prestigious venue – it’s very exciting for the tournament and the fans.”
Williams will ultimately be eyeing Wimbledon which begins on Monday, June 29. The tennis icon last lifted the title at SW19 in 2016.
