Serena Williams Jokes About Changing Her Mind As She Extends Her Comeback Tour

Serena Williams has added different extremity to her comeback tour: nan Berlin Tennis Open.

Just a time aft announcing her return to master tennis, nan 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has been added to nan 16-team doubles section astatine Germany’s WTA 500 event.

“Every tourney I adhd to my schedule correct now feels special, and Berlin is nary exception,” Williams said successful a statement shared by nan arena connected Tuesday. “I’m excited to compete successful beforehand of nan German fans and proceed building momentum passim nan grass-court season.”

Williams is group to play successful nan doubles tourney astatine nan HSBC Championships astatine London’s Queen’s Club, which kicks disconnected June 8. On Thursday, 19-year-old Canadian rising prima Victoria Mboko confirmed connected Instagram that she’ll beryllium Williams’ partner astatine nan event. The Berlin Tennis Open will statesman June 13 and Williams’ partner has yet to beryllium named.

The 44-year aged tennis awesome is returning to nan athletics aft almost 4 years distant from competition. She firmly denied rumors of her return connected societal media conscionable past year.

Williams appeared to flick nosy astatine her ain turnaround pinch a short advertisement video posted to X connected Thursday captioned “I changed my mind.”

Despite anterior rumors, Williams’ sister Venus seemed conscionable arsenic amazed arsenic everyone other that Serena was returning to nan competitory circuit.

“I deliberation she hits each now and then,” Venus Williams, who besides still competes professionally, said during a recent interview astatine Roland-Garros. “I ne'er spot her connected nan tribunal that often, truthful I don’t cognize erstwhile she’s been practicing, honestly.”

Despite not having seen her believe first-hand, Venus Williams is not worried astir really Serena will play astatine nan upcoming competitions.

“She’s, I think, a small spot of a natural,” she said pinch a laugh. “She has a beautiful bully record. She knows what she’s doing. She’s very tenacious. I’m not worried astir really she’s going to play, moreover though I really haven’t seen her play. It’s truthful crazy.”