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Serena Williams made a winning start to her competitive tennis comeback in the doubles event at Queen’s, claiming her first professional victory in nearly four years.
The 44-year-old – making her first appearance since the 2022 US Open – partnered Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko to a 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 victory over third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe.
Williams was given a standing ovation as she walked onto the grass court at the Andy Murray Arena, her debut at the Queen’s Club, with the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion putting in an impressive display.
The unseeded pair will now face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund, who defeated Alexandra Panova and Demi Schuurs 6-2 2-6 11-9, in the quarter-finals.
“I had so much fun playing with Vicky [Mboko],” Williams said on court. “She really was able to hold up the team and play big on the big points – I could really rely on her.
“We’ve never played together, but it just felt so natural playing with her so it was a lot of fun.”
Williams paid credit to playing partner Victoria Mboko after their victory
Williams showed she still has plenty of her trademark power during a tight first set, hitting service winners of up to 120 mph, as Melichar-Martinez Routliffe recovered from being broken early to force the tie break.
Mboko and Williams only needed one of their four set points on offer to close out the opening set before claiming a double break in the second, with the American great firing two aces during a match-winning hold to complete her winning return in style.
On why she decided to make her comeback at Queen’s, Williams joked: “I had nothing better to do – I got tired of sitting at home! My kids are out of school for the summer so why not?!
“I never got to play here [during her singles career], it was always just the men, but it feels so special to play at some place so iconic and where I saw so many of my friends win.”
Williams had a doubles partner 25 years her junior
Willams said ahead of featuring at Queen’s she had “nothing to prove” in her competitive comeback, having previously said she was “evolving” away from tennis rather than outright retiring in 2022.
The 14-time Grand Slam doubles champion will also compete in doubles at the Berlin Open in Germany next week, although has yet to confirm whether she will feature at Wimbledon from June 29.
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