US player Serena Williams serves while playing with Canada's Victoria Mboko against US player Nicole Melichar-Martinez and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe during their round of 16, doubles match at the HSBC WTA tennis Championships at Queen's Club in west London on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
Serena Williams said she had “so much fun” as the American legend rolled back the years in her triumphant return to tennis in the Queen’s Club doubles on Tuesday.
Four years after appearing to end her glittering career, Williams and Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko powered to a 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 win over third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in the first round of the grass-court tournament.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, stunned the sporting world a week ago with her shock announcement that she would compete in the Queen’s Club doubles.
The 44-year-old relished every minute of her remarkable return — after conquering a pre-match bout of nerves.
