Serena Williams has declared she has 'nothing to prove' as she prepares to step back onto a tennis court for the first time since 2022, teaming up with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in the doubles draw at the Queen's Club Championships in London.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, now 43, will make her competitive return this week at the historic west London venue. Speaking ahead of the tournament, Williams said: 'I'm not here to chase records. I just want to feel the buzz of playing again, especially on grass, which has always been special for me.'
Williams last played at the 2022 US Open, where she lost in the third round to Ajla Tomljanovic before retiring from singles competition. Since then, she has focused on her business ventures and family life, but the lure of the grass-court season has drawn her back for a doubles cameo.
Her partner, 18-year-old Victoria Mboko, is a rising junior star ranked outside the top 500. The pair will face a tough opening test against the experienced Czech duo of Marie Bouzková and Tereza Mihalíková. 'I want to help Victoria learn and have fun out there,' Williams added. 'If we win a match, brilliant. If not, I'll still be smiling.'
The Queen's Club doubles draw also features British hopefuls including Heather Watson, who is partnering Harriet Dart. For UK tennis fans, Williams' presence adds considerable star power to the pre-Wimbledon grass-court season, with ticket demand surging since the announcement.