Serena Williams Confirms Return to Tennis at Queen’s Club After Three-Year Break

Serena Williams has announced her return to competitive tennis, confirming she will play at Queen’s Club for the first time since 2022. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who last won a major in 2017, had stepped away without formally retiring. Her return follows re-entry into the sport’s testing programme, and it has been welcomed by tennis officials.

Tennis icon Serena Williams has confirmed her return to competitive tennis, announcing that she will take part in the doubles event at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club next week, marking a highly anticipated comeback to the sport after stepping away from professional competition in 2022.

Williams revealed the news in a short Instagram video showing her walking onto a tennis court holding a racket. In her post, she acknowledged the growing speculation around her return and confirmed the next phase of her tennis journey, writing that Queen’s Club feels like the “perfect place to begin this next chapter.” She also reflected on her long relationship with grass courts, describing them as the surface where she has enjoyed some of the most meaningful moments of her career.
The announcement immediately generated global excitement, as Williams has not played professional tennis since her final appearance at the 2022 US Open. Her last Grand Slam singles title came in 2017, but she remained a dominant figure in the sport for years, shaping the modern era of women’s tennis with her power, consistency, and longevity.
Although she never formally declared retirement, Williams previously stated that she would be “evolving away” from tennis, suggesting a gradual transition out of full-time competition rather than a definitive farewell. Since stepping back from the tour, she has focused on her family life and expanded her business interests, particularly through her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, which supports startups and holds investments in several companies, including sports-related ventures.
Speculation about a possible comeback intensified after Williams re-entered the sport’s anti-doping testing programme in December. Participation in the programme is a mandatory requirement for any player seeking to return to professional tennis, and her registration was widely interpreted as a sign that a comeback was being considered.
Williams leaves the sport, or at least her full-time competitive phase, with one of the most extraordinary records in tennis history. She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, placing her among the greatest players of all time, and has earned nearly $95 million in career prize money, making her one of the highest-paid female athletes in history.
Her return has been warmly received by tennis officials and organisers. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which oversees the Queen’s Club tournament, described her comeback as a major milestone for the event and for women’s tennis in general. Tournament director Laura Robson said Williams’ presence would bring significant excitement to the competition and elevate its global profile.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) also welcomed the announcement, with officials highlighting Williams’ lasting impact on the sport and expressing enthusiasm about seeing her compete against a new generation of players who have grown up watching her dominance on the court.
Williams’ return comes at a time when women’s tennis is experiencing a generational shift, with younger players increasingly rising to prominence. Her participation in the doubles event is expected to draw major international attention and potentially boost viewership for the Queen’s Club Championships.
As anticipation builds, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the tennis legend performs after years away from competitive play, especially on grass courts, a surface she has historically excelled on throughout her career. The upcoming tournament is expected to serve as a major sporting moment, blending nostalgia with renewed curiosity about what Williams’ return could mean for the future of the sport.