After nearly four years away from professional tennis, Serena Williams made an impressive return to the court on Tuesday, reminding fans why she is one of the game’s greatest players.Playing at London’s Queen’s Club, the 44-year-old paired up with rising Canadian star Victoria Mbuko in the doubles event. Despite his long absence, Williams showed he had lost none of his trademark power, firing at speeds of over 120 mph (about 193 km/h) and helping the duo to straight-set victories.See:Williams and Mbuko defeated third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Rotliff 7-6 (2), 6-2. Williams served out the match in style with two aces and a service winner to close out the win.The 23-time Grand Slam champion was all smiles after her first professional match since the 2022 US Open.“It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed playing with Victoria,” Williams said in an on-court interview. “She was able to really carry the team and make big plays at big points. I could really trust her. We had never played together but it felt so natural to play with her.”
Rising star Mboko excited to take the court
Mboko, just 19 years old and already ranked No. 9 in the world, was equally delighted to play alongside one of tennis’ greatest icons.“I feel very honored to play with Serena,” said Mbuku, standing next to the 23-time Grand Slam winner. “I had a lot of fun, if anything. We really did it there. I’m very happy to play with you. And we’re going for more.” Williams announced last week that she would return to doubles competition, although she has not yet decided whether she will also return to singles. So far, his winning return and powerful serving performance have already become one of the biggest talking points of the tournament.
