▲ Serena Williams
Tennis legend Serena Williams (USA) has secured a victory in her first match since the 2022 US Open, marking her return to the court after four years.
Partnering with Victoria Mboko (Canada), Williams defeated the duo of Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) and Erin Routliffe (New Zealand) 2-0 (7-6<7-2> 6-2) in one hour and 32 minutes during the first round of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour HSBC Championship held at the Queen's Club in London, UK.
For the 44-year-old Williams, this marks her first professional match in 1,376 days, dating back to the 2022 US Open.
Williams demonstrated that she remains in top form, showcasing her signature power with serves reaching 193 km/h and sharp winners.
In the final service game of the second set, with the score at 5-2, she hit two consecutive aces followed by a service winner to seal the victory and celebrate her successful return.
Williams has won 23 major singles titles, including seven triumphs at Wimbledon.
Additionally, she has won 14 major doubles titles alongside her sister Venus Williams, with six of those victories coming at Wimbledon.
This tournament marks the first time Williams has paired with Mboko.
The Williams-Mboko duo will face the team of Leylah Fernandez (Canada) and Laura Siegemund (Germany) in the quarterfinals.
"It was really fun. I enjoyed playing with Mboko," Williams said after the match. "We've never played together, but it felt very natural."
She added, "Considering all the conditions, returning on grass isn't the easiest thing to do. It was a grass court, and it was my first match in four years. Overall, I think it was okay. But I'd give my performance a 'C-'."
Williams is also scheduled to compete in the doubles event at the 2026 Berlin Open, which begins on June 15.
However, her participation in Wimbledon, which kicks off on June 29, has not yet been decided.
"I'm taking it one day at a time," Williams said regarding her potential Wimbledon appearance. "There is still some time left to decide."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.