Serena Williams marked her return to competitive tennis with a victory in the women's doubles event at the Queen's Club Championships. Playing alongside Caroline Wozniacki, the American legend defeated the pair of Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe with a score of 6-4, 6-3.
Emotional Comeback
Williams, who had not played a professional match since the 2024 US Open, showed signs of rust but also flashes of her trademark power and athleticism. The crowd at Queen's Club gave her a standing ovation as she walked onto the court. 'It feels amazing to be back,' Williams said in an on-court interview. 'I've missed this feeling, the energy of the crowd, the competition.'
Dominant Display
The duo broke serve early in the first set and never looked back. Wozniacki, a former world number one, complemented Williams' aggressive baseline play with deft volleys at the net. They saved all three break points they faced, converting two of their own chances to seal the match in just over an hour.
- Williams served four aces and won 80% of her first-serve points.
- The pair hit 12 winners to their opponents' seven.
- They did not face a break point in the second set.
The victory sets up a potential quarterfinal clash against top seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova. Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, is using the tournament to prepare for Wimbledon, where she will compete in singles as a wildcard. 'I'm taking it one match at a time, but the goal is to be ready for Wimbledon,' she added.
Fans and fellow players alike celebrated her return. Former rival Maria Sharapova tweeted her congratulations. The tournament organizers reported record attendance for the women's doubles session.
