Serena Williams has won her first competitive tennis match in nearly four years, playing in women’s doubles at Queen’s Club.
Playing alongside Victoria Mboko, a 19-year-old from Canada, the 44-year-old Williams showed plenty of flashes of her old self as the duo beat No. 3 seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez 7-6(2), 6-2 in the first round.
Speaking after the victory, Williams said: “It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria. She was able to hold up the team on the big points and I could lean on her. It felt very natural.”
When asked on the comeback, Williams said: “I had nothing better to do! I was sitting at home. I thought, why not? I never got to play here, it was always just the men. It feels very special to play somewhere so iconic. It’s very cool.” She added that she didn’t know “what was to come” in the future.
Her doubles partner Mboko said: “I feel very honoured to play with you Serena, it’s a privilege. We’re going for more!”
Williams and Mboko will be back in action in the quarterfinals later this week. Williams has also taken a doubles wild card at the Berlin Open before a possible Grand Slam appearance at Wimbledon later this month.
(The Whistler)