Serena Williams is on the verge of a dramatic return to professional tennis at age 44, nearly four years after her emotional farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. Reports indicate the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has requested a doubles wildcard for the upcoming WTA 500 HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London, set to begin on June 8 as a key grass-court tune-up for Wimbledon.
According to reporting from Jon Wertheim on the “Served” podcast hosted by Andy Roddick, Williams is slated to partner with rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko, the 19-year-old world No. 9. Williams has been back in the anti-doping testing pool for six months, making her eligible to compete since February 2026. She has been training under the radar in Florida, including sessions captured on video with WTA player Alycia Parks earlier this year.
The tennis world has been buzzing with speculation since the news broke late last week. Williams has not yet issued an official confirmation or statement on her participation, but the wildcard request signals serious intent. Queen’s Club organizers have not publicly commented as of the latest reports.
Mboko, speaking to reporters at the French Open, addressed the rumors without confirming details while expressing admiration for the legend. “Me and Serena have stayed in touch which is really really nice because I really look up to her and I mean the fact that she even knows me is very exciting,” Mboko said. “I feel like if she’s ready to come back on her own terms then I feel like it’s up to her to announce that, but other than that, I don’t really have much to say. I think the moment is all up to her, and when she’s ready to come back.”
Roddick, a longtime friend of Williams, highlighted the significance of her re-entering the testing pool. “As soon as you re-enter the doping protocol, which happened six or eight months ago, you do that because you want the option of coming back,” he noted on the podcast. He suggested the grass surface could offer Williams her best opportunity, pointing to her unparalleled history on it—including seven Wimbledon singles titles.
Roddick further speculated that Williams’ ambitions may extend beyond doubles. “I think she is going to play singles… I just don’t see, at this point in her life, 40s, coming back — how many shots in the basket are you going to have on your best surface, in singles, again, if that is your intent. I don’t think she can skip singles at Wimbledon. I think if you’re going to come back, you gotta go.”
Williams last competed competitively at the 2022 U.S. Open, where she fell in the third round to Ajla Tomljanovic in what many viewed as her retirement match, though she stopped short of using that word. In the years since, she has focused on family—raising daughters Olympia and Adira—building her business empire through Serena Ventures, and other ventures, while maintaining a high public profile.
Fellow players have reacted positively to the prospect of her return. Naomi Osaka, who recently caught up with Williams at the Met Gala, said it would be “cool to see her on the grounds again” and bring more eyes to the sport. Madison Keys added, “Serena Williams playing tennis is only good for tennis… You get to watch history every single time she takes the court.”
