Serena Williams Returns to Tennis at Queen’s Club 2026: Complete Guide to the Comeback

Quick Answer: Serena Williams has returned to professional tennis at the 2026 HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London, competing in the women’s doubles draw alongside 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko. The pair won their first-round match on 9 June 2026, defeating third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6(2), 6-2. Williams, who is 44 years old, is not playing singles at this event, and she has not yet confirmed whether she will make a singles return or play at Wimbledon 2026.

The grass-court season in London has just received a major jolt of excitement. Tennis fans at Queen’s Club were treated to a surprise when 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams walked back onto a professional match court. The American icon had not played a competitive match since her emotional farewell at the 2022 US Open, leading most to believe her career was over. Now, her doubles entry has turned the WTA 500 event in West Kensington into one of the most talked-about tournaments of the year.

Serena Williams returns to tennis at Queen’s Club 2026

Serena Williams returned to professional tennis at the 2026 HSBC Championships, which are held at the historic Queen’s Club in London. According to trusted reporting, she entered the tournament via a wildcard in the women’s doubles draw.

This return marks the first time Williams has competed in a professional match in nearly four years. Her last competitive appearance was in September 2022 at the US Open, where she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round. While many fans hoped she would enter the singles draw, she chose to focus on doubles for her return.

Who is Victoria Mboko?

Victoria Mboko is a 19-year-old Canadian tennis player who has climbed the rankings to become the World No.9. She is regarded as one of the most promising prospects in Canadian tennis history, blending aggressive baseline play with remarkable poise.

In the singles draw at Queen’s Club 2026, Mboko is the third seed. In the second round, she secured a win against former World No.1 Karolina Pliskova, winning 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-4. For the doubles tournament, Mboko was selected as Serena Williams’ partner, forming a unique powerhouse pairing.

How old is Serena Williams?

Serena Williams is 44 years old. She was born on 26 September 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan. Despite her age, her return has shown that she can still compete at the highest professional level, especially on grass courts where points are shorter and her serve remains highly effective.

Over her career, Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, placing her second on the all-time list behind Margaret Court. Seven of those singles titles were won on the grass of Wimbledon. She also holds 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, all won alongside her older sister, Venus Williams.

Did Serena win her Queen’s Club doubles match?

Yes, Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko won their first-round doubles match at Queen’s Club. They faced the third-seeded team of Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) and Erin Routliffe (New Zealand).

The match ended in a straight-sets victory for Williams and Mboko, with a final score of 7-6(2), 6-2. The first set was closely contested, with both teams holding serve until a tiebreak, which Williams and Mboko dominated. In the second set, the wildcard duo broke service twice to secure a comfortable victory and advance to the quarterfinals.

Who is playing at Queen’s Club 2026? The singles draw explained

The 2026 HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club features a strong singles draw, with several of the world’s top players preparing for Wimbledon. The tournament is a WTA 500 event played on grass, running from 8 to 14 June 2026.

The seedings and key players in the draw include:

• Top Seed: Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, who is the current World No.2 and a former Wimbledon champion.
• Second Seed: Amanda Anisimova of the United States, currently ranked World No.6.
• Third Seed: Victoria Mboko of Canada, the World No.9.
• Wildcards: The British contingent is led by wildcard entries, including British No.1 Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Francesca Jones, and Mika Stojsavljevic.
• Emma Raducanu: The 2021 US Open champion is also in the draw, winning her first-round match 6-0, 6-3.

The overall prize money for the women’s event is £1.43m, reflecting a 35% increase from the previous year.

How did Katie Boulter do at Queen’s Club 2026?

British No.1 Katie Boulter received a wildcard into the main singles draw at Queen’s Club. In the first round, she faced a difficult match against Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up. Boulter won the match in three sets, recovering from a set down to win 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5. The match lasted over two hours, with Boulter showing strong resilience on her favourite surface to advance.

What about Karolina Pliskova at Queen’s Club 2026?

Karolina Pliskova is a former World No.1 and two-time Grand Slam finalist. The Czech player was added to the main singles draw at Queen’s Club to strengthen the field. In the singles second round, Pliskova played the third seed, Victoria Mboko. According to verified tournament results, Mboko defeated Pliskova in a tight match, with the score finishing 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-4.

Amanda Anisimova at Queen’s Club 2026

Amanda Anisimova is the second seed in the singles draw and is currently ranked World No.6. She has a strong record on grass and was the runner-up at the 2025 Queen’s Club tournament. In the 2025 final, Anisimova was defeated by Tatjana Maria of Germany, who won the match 6-3, 6-4. Anisimova entered the 2026 tournament as one of the favourites for the title.

Is Venus Williams playing at Queen’s Club 2026?

No, Venus Williams is not playing at Queen’s Club 2026. Venus is Serena’s older sister, and the two have historically dominated the doubles circuit together, winning 14 Grand Slam titles. While Serena has returned alongside Victoria Mboko, Venus is not entered in the singles or doubles draws at Queen’s Club this year.

Is Serena Williams playing singles or at Wimbledon?

As of publication, Serena Williams is not playing singles matches. She has only entered the doubles draw at Queen’s Club. When asked at a press conference about her future singles plans, Williams stated that she has not yet decided whether she will make a comeback in singles. This includes whether she will play at Wimbledon 2026.

Who won Queen’s Club in 2025?

The 2025 Queen’s Club women’s singles title was won by Tatjana Maria of Germany. She defeated Amanda Anisimova in the final with a score of 6-3, 6-4. At the time of her victory, Maria was 37 years old, making her the oldest woman to win a WTA 500 singles title.

What has not been confirmed?

• Serena Williams singles comeback is not confirmed.
• Serena Williams Wimbledon 2026 singles entry is not confirmed.
• Venus Williams playing at Queen’s Club 2026 is not confirmed.
• The tournament winner for the 2026 singles draw has not yet been decided.

Key background

The HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club is a WTA 500 tournament played on grass courts. It runs from 8 to 14 June 2026 and serves as a key warm-up event for Wimbledon. The total prize money for the women’s event is £1.43m, which represents a 35% increase. Serena Williams’ return to professional tennis has brought global attention to the tournament, highlighting her legacy as a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion.

Simple timeline

• September 2022: Serena Williams plays what is widely expected to be her final professional match at the US Open.
• June 2026: Williams receives a doubles wildcard for the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club.
• 8 June 2026: The WTA 500 tournament begins on the grass courts of Queen’s Club.
• 9 June 2026: Williams and Victoria Mboko defeat third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6(2), 6-2 in the first round.
• 14 June 2026: The final matches of the HSBC Championships take place.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Serena Williams has officially retired from professional tennis.
  • Reality: Williams did not use the word “retired,” preferring to describe her departure as “evolving away from tennis.”
• Mistake: Victoria Mboko is an older, veteran doubles specialist.
  • Reality: Mboko is a 19-year-old Canadian singles rising star currently ranked World No.9.
• Mistake: Venus Williams is playing doubles with Serena at Queen’s Club.
  • Reality: Serena’s doubles partner is Victoria Mboko. Venus is not playing at the 2026 event.
• Mistake: Serena Williams has confirmed she will play singles at Wimbledon 2026.
  • Reality: Williams stated she remains undecided about a singles comeback or entering Wimbledon.
• Mistake: Karolina Pliskova and Victoria Mboko are the same player.
  • Reality: Pliskova is a former Czech World No.1, whereas Mboko is a 19-year-old Canadian player who defeated Pliskova in the singles second round.

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People Also Ask

How old is Serena Williams?

Serena Williams is 44 years old. She was born on 26 September 1981.

Who is Victoria Mboko?

Victoria Mboko is a 19-year-old Canadian tennis player ranked World No.9. She is the third seed in singles and partnered Serena Williams in doubles at Queen’s Club.

Is Venus Williams playing at Queen’s Club 2026?

No, Venus Williams is not playing at Queen’s Club 2026. Venus is Serena’s older sister.

Has Serena Williams officially retired from tennis?

Serena Williams did not use the word “retired” at the 2022 US Open, stating instead that she was “evolving” away from the sport.

Is Serena Williams playing at Wimbledon 2026?

Serena Williams has not officially confirmed whether she will play at Wimbledon 2026, stating that she is still deciding on a singles comeback.

Who won Queen’s Club 2025?

Tatjana Maria won the 2025 Queen’s Club singles title, beating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-4.

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People Also Search For

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The 2026 HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club is a WTA 500 grass-court tournament running from 8 to 14 June, featuring top seeds Elena Rybakina and Amanda Anisimova.

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Serena Williams returned to professional tennis in June 2026 at Queen’s Club, playing in the doubles draw and winning her opening match.

Victoria Mboko tennis

Victoria Mboko is a 19-year-old Canadian tennis player ranked World No.9. She is the third seed in singles and partnered Serena Williams in doubles at Queen’s Club.

Karolina Pliskova Queens Club

Karolina Pliskova is a former World No.1 Czech player who competed in the singles draw, losing to Victoria Mboko in the second round.

Amanda Anisimova Queens Club

Amanda Anisimova is the World No.6 and second seed at Queen’s Club 2026, having finished as the runner-up in the 2025 event.

Katie Boulter Queens Club

British No.1 Katie Boulter received a wildcard and won her first-round singles match against Leylah Fernandez in three sets.

Elena Rybakina Queens 2026

Elena Rybakina is the top seed in the singles draw at Queen’s Club 2026, currently ranked World No.2.

Erin Routliffe tennis

Erin Routliffe is a New Zealand doubles specialist who was seeded third with Nicole Melichar-Martinez, losing to Williams and Mboko in the first round.

how old is Serena Williams

Serena Williams is 44 years old, born on 26 September 1981.

Venus Williams tennis 2026

Venus Williams is Serena’s older sister. She is not playing at the 2026 Queen’s Club tournament.

Serena Williams Wimbledon 2026

Serena Williams’ entry into the 2026 Wimbledon singles tournament remains unconfirmed, with the player stating she is still deciding.

HSBC Championships 2026

The official name of the Queen’s Club women’s event, running from 8 to 14 June 2026 with a prize pool of £1.43m.

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FAQs

When did Serena Williams last play professionally before Queen’s Club 2026?

Before returning at Queen’s Club in June 2026, Serena Williams last played competitive tennis at the 2022 US Open in New York, where she reached the third round.

What is the prize money at Queen’s Club 2026?

The total prize money for the women’s event at the 2026 HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club is £1.43m, representing a 35% increase from last year’s prize pool.

Who are the British wildcards at Queen’s Club 2026?

The British wildcards in the singles draw include British No.1 Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Francesca Jones, and rising junior Mika Stojsavljevic.

What was Serena Williams’ score against Melichar-Martinez and Routliffe?

Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko defeated Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in straight sets, finishing with a score of 7-6(2), 6-2.

Has Serena Williams won at Queen’s Club before?

No, Serena Williams has not won a tournament at Queen’s Club before. Historically, Queen’s Club was a men-only grass-court event during her peak years.

What does WTA 500 mean?

A WTA 500 tournament is a professional women’s tennis event on the WTA Tour that awards 500 ranking points to the singles and doubles champions.

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Bottom line

Serena Williams has made a successful return to professional tennis at the 2026 Queen’s Club, winning her first-round doubles match alongside Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko. Williams, who is 44, has not yet confirmed whether she will play singles or enter Wimbledon 2026. Mboko, a 19-year-old ranked World No.9, is also a top contender in the singles draw. With top players like Elena Rybakina and Amanda Anisimova competing, alongside strong British wildcards like Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu, the tournament is set for an exciting conclusion. For live results and draw updates, check the official LTA and WTA websites.

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Sources checked

• Official source: LTA HSBC Championships draw and results page.
• Official source: WTA Tennis official Queen’s Club player list and draw sheet.
• Trusted reporting: BBC Sport report on Serena Williams’ doubles wildcard and return match.
• Trusted reporting: Sky Sports coverage of Williams and Mboko defeating third seeds.
• Trusted reporting: The Guardian review of the Queen’s Club women’s singles draw and wildcards.
• Trusted reporting: ESPN tennis tournament news and press conference quotes.