Serena Williams Gets A Doubles Win In Her First Professional Match In Almost Four Years

Serena Williams is back.

And truthful is her blistering serve.

After almost four years away from nan sport, nan 44-year-old tennis fable made a triumphant return Tuesday astatine Queen’s Club successful London. She teamed pinch Canadian teen Victoria Mboko for a 7-6 (2), 6-2 triumph against Nicole Melichar-Martinez of nan United States and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand successful an opening doubles lucifer astatine nan grass-court HSBC Championships.

Williams recorded work winners of up to 120 mph during her first master lucifer since nan 2022 U.S. Open.

“It was truthful fun,” Williams said afterward successful an on-court interview. “I had truthful overmuch nosy playing pinch Victoria. She really was capable to clasp up nan squad and really play large connected nan large points. I could really trust connected her. We’ve ne'er played together, but it conscionable felt truthful earthy playing pinch her.”

Williams has won 14 Grand Slam titles and 3 Olympic golden medals successful doubles, each pinch sister Venus Williams arsenic her playing partner.

Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko of Canada activity to nan crowd aft defeating Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe connected Tuesday astatine nan Queen’s Club successful London.

(Alberto Pezzali / Associated Press)

“I consciousness very honored to play pinch Serena,” Mboko said. “I had a batch of fun, if anything. We really did that retired there. I’m truthful happy to beryllium playing beside you. And we’re going for more.”

In September 2022, Williams had registered arsenic retired pinch nan International Tennis Integrity Agency.

Last December, however, Williams reentered nan agency’s drug-testing pool, a move that led to speculation astir a imaginable return for nan 23-time Grand Slam singles champion. She announced her master tennis return past week arsenic a wild-card doubles introduction astatine nan Queen’s Club tournament.

Days later, Williams was added to nan 16-team doubles field astatine Germany’s WTA 500 event.

“I had thing amended to do,” Williams said Tuesday. “I sewage tired of sitting astatine home. My kids are retired of schoolhouse for nan summer, truthful why not?”