Serena Williams’ return to professional tennis lasted just one match when her doubles campaign at Queen’s Club came to an abrupt end on Thursday due to an injury to her partner Victoria Mbuko.The 44-year-old American marked his return to form on Tuesday, returning to the court for the first time since the 2022 US Open and helping 19-year-old Canadian Mbuku beat third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Rotliff 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the opening round.However, the excitement surrounding Williams’ return proved short-lived.Mboko had to withdraw from the tournament after sustaining a left knee injury during her last 16 singles match against Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday. The teenager fell behind 6-2, 3-4 and was unable to continue, leaving the court in tears.As a result, Williams and Mbuko withdrew from their scheduled quarterfinals against Leila Fernandez and Laura Sigmund, who advanced to the semifinals via walkover.
Return of the dream short
Williams’ presence at the Queen’s Club had generated a lot of interest with seven bars. Wimbledon The champion made his first professional appearance in 1,375 days.The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion retired from the sport after the 2022 US Open, famously saying she was “growing” away from tennis rather than retiring.Despite the long absence, Williams showed his old brilliance alongside Mboko. The pair scored impressive victories against Melichar-Martinez and Rotliff, raising hopes of a deep run at the grass-court event.But those hopes were dashed less than 48 hours later due to Mbuku’s unfortunate injury.
Berlin Open Next on Serena’s schedule
An early exit doesn’t mean the end of Williams’ comeback.The former world No. 1 is expected to return to action next week at the Berlin Open, where she will once again compete in the doubles draw. Although her partner has not been officially confirmed, reports from the Times of London suggest that Czech star Karolina Mochova could be dating the American great.Whether Williams will even attend Wimbledon is uncertain.With seven titles at the All England Club and a total of 23 Grand Slam singles crowns, the return of the tennis legend has already sparked excitement among fans. But his Queen’s Club campaign served as a reminder that even the most eagerly awaited comeback can depend on factors beyond a player’s control.
