Serena Williams Wins First Match in Over 1,300 Days
Serena Williams has successfully returned to the tennis court, winning her first match in 1,376 days since her last professional encounter.
The 44-year-old, alongside her doubles partner Victoria Mboko, triumphed over the third-seeded duo of Erin Routliff and Nicole Merichard Martinez with a score of 7-6 (2), 6-2 at the Queen’s Club Championships on Tuesday. Routliff and Melichar Martinez hold the world rankings of 11th and 15th in doubles, respectively.
“It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed playing with Victoria,” Williams shared during a post-match interview. “We had never teamed up before, but it felt very natural.”
The atmosphere at London’s Andy Murray Arena was electric, with a packed crowd eager to witness Williams’ comeback. Her husband Alexis, daughters Olympia and Adira, and friend Lindsey Vonn were all present to cheer her on.
This tournament made a return to the WTA in 2025 after a lengthy 50-year absence, marking Williams’ debut at the Queen’s Club.
“I’ve never had the chance to play here before. It’s always just the boys,” said Williams, reflecting on her last competitive appearance at the 2022 U.S. Open. “It felt really special to compete in such an iconic venue.”
The match had its share of ups and downs. Williams and the young Canadian initially led 3-0 in the first set, but a strong comeback from Routliff and Melichar Martinez forced the tiebreak, which they lost 7-2. The second set sped by, showcasing Williams’ returning dominance, giving her a victory for the first time since August 31, 2022.
Speaking of her power, Williams exhibited her formidable serve, which clocked in at 113.9 mph, pushing her serve speed to an impressive 190 mph.
At a post-match press conference, Williams rated her performance a “C-minus.” “Considering all the factors, grass is probably not the easiest surface to come back on. Overall, I think it was decent,” she commented.
There’s ongoing speculation about whether Williams, a seven-time singles and doubles champion, will participate in Wimbledon.
“Yeah, like I said the other day, it’s just one day at a time,” she remarked when asked about future plans post-victory. “I still have a bit of time to decide, but they were really kind to allow me space to make that decision.”
Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of Williams’ return was that her young daughters could finally watch her compete. Her youngest, Adira, born in August 2023, witnessed her mother in a competitive setting for the first time. When asked about her daughters’ reactions, Williams chuckled.
“Adira wanted to go to the toy store and Olympia wanted to go to dinner. That’s kids for you,” she said. “They don’t care about missed serves or anything else. Their priorities are getting fed and playing with new toys.”
Looking ahead, Williams and Mboko are set to face Leila Fernandes and Laura Siegemund in the Queen’s Club quarter-finals on Thursday. Fernandes was the runner-up in women’s singles at the 2021 U.S. Open.
