The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion returned to the sport for the first time in nearly four years on Tuesday, June 9, in a doubles match at Queen’s Club Championship in London.<\/p>\n
Williams, 44, and her partner, Canadian Victoria Mboko, 19, beat Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and American Nicole Melichar-Martinez in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.<\/p>\n
Dressed in a light-pink Nike warm-up jacket and tennis dress, Williams received a loud ovation from the crowd at the London tournament. The tennis legend’s husband, Alexis Ohanian<\/a>, and their daughters, Olympia, 8, and Adira, 2, were also on hand to watch her triumphant return.<\/p>\n Olympian Lindsey Vonn<\/a>, a friend of Williams’ who also un-retired in her 40s, was in attendance, The Athletic<\/a> reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Williams, who at one point served a 113 mph ace, was fierce on the court, attacking Routliffe and Melichar-Martinez with strong volleys \u2014 and looking to be enjoying every single minute of the hour-plus long match.<\/p>\n The event, which often serves as a warm-up for Wimbledon, marks the first of at least two matches on Williams’ schedule.<\/p>\n Last week, Williams announced she’ll also play doubles at the Berlin Tennis Open beginning on June 15, according to the tournament’s website<\/a>. Her partner has not yet been publicly announced.<\/p>\n For the 39-time major champion, getting back onto the grass may not be limited to just doubles play.<\/p>\n Serena Williams on June 9, 2026 In a press conference on Sunday, June 7, the mother of two said that she has not ruled out playing singles matches.<\/p>\n “I can’t say no right now,” Williams told reporters in a press conference<\/a> on Sunday, June 7. “I feel like I probably need to train a little bit more if I want to play singles, and we will see if I get there, and if not\u2026 that’s not my journey right now.”<\/p>\n Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE’s free sports newsletter<\/a> \u2014 sign up now!<\/p>\n For Williams \u2014 who has been on a weight-loss journey<\/a>, picked up new sports<\/a> and had a baby<\/a> since she “evolved away” from tennis after the U.S. Open in September 2022 \u2014\u00a0 it’s not about winning or losing.<\/p>\n “I don’t need to win,” Williams said on Sunday. “I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives, so it’s not that important to me, and it’s important that I keep reminding myself of that, because I don’t have anything to prove.”<\/p>\n![\"Serena](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/aol_people_articles_471\/e67e18901e186e6acd4ec608c595def1.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Adrian Dennis \/ AFP via Getty<\/p>\n