Why now? and Why return? These are the questions journalists have been asking as Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion and one of the greatest athletes in tennis history, prepares to make her return to the sport after four years away from competitive action.
The tennis world has been buzzing with excitement since news broke that Williams will step back onto the court at the prestigious Queen’s Club Championships in London. Teaming up with rising star Victoria Mboko in the doubles competition, Serena’s return marks a significant moment for both the tournament and the sport as a whole.
When asked when she first saw 19-year-old Mboko play, what stood out about her and why she chose the rising star as her partner? “Yeah , I saw her play in, was it Montreal? I think it was last year or the year before? So I remember seeing her play and that’s the one she won.
“I was quite impressed with her game. I was impressed with her attitude. What I liked the most about her was that the next time she played , she still kept winning. She reminds me more about myself.
“ Sometimes you win one and then you have a little bit of a low, which is normal and that’s okay as well but I loved how she had that drive. I have seen her play doubles here and there it was a hard decision and it was not a last minute decision but it was a last minute decision commitment”.
The Queen’s club championships tournament returned last year after more than 50 years without a women’s competition at Queen’s Club. Last year’s women’s singles title was won by Tatjana Maria, while Carlos Alcaraz won the men’s title.
Williams will start her comeback in doubles with Victoria Mboko on Thursday June 9 against Erina Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
Other top players expected to compete include Emma Raducanu, Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, Madison Keys, and Katie Boulter.
