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Queen’s LIVE: Serena Williams, 44, triumphant on tennis comeback in first match in four years
Williams partnered teenager Victoria Mboko and took down the third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, 7-6 6-2
The moment Serena Williams sparked a gentle tennis comeback into life
Under the late afternoon sun, as the breeze swirled in west London, Serena Williams returned to a competitive tennis court. By the time the shadow of the prestigious Queen’s Club had crept across the grass, covering the lines, she had secured her first victory in four years. Alongside doubles partner Victoria Mboko, the Canadian teenager 25 years her junior, the 44-year-old Williams defeated the third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, 7-6 6-2.
With it, a remarkable tennis comeback was kicked, gently, into motion. The 23-time grand slam champion had not competed since the 2022 US Open, the tournament that followed her announcement of “evolving” away from the sport. When she returned to the glare of the competition, with nowhere to hide, there were lots of errors, missed forehands, shanked overheads, and understandable rust. Williams had fun, and even admitted to some nerves, but gave herself a grade of “C minus”, with plenty of room for improvement.
That, though, was not the only aim.
The moment Serena Williams sparked a gentle tennis comeback into life
The 44-year-old Williams gave herself a ‘C-minus’ as she teamed up with Victoria Mboko to win her first match in four years - but still stunned her 19-year-old partner with a leaping backhand down the line
Jamie Braidwood9 June 2026 21:15
Victoria Mboko on Serena Williams: 'My gosh, she's got it!'
“I thought she was moving great. There was that one shot you hit, remember, you were on the run, on the backhand, and I was like, Oh, my gosh, she's got it. On my perspective, I feel like it's all great. It was a lot of fun, and yeah, it was amazing.”
Jamie Braidwood9 June 2026 20:39
Serena Williams grades herself a 'C-minus' on Queen's return
“I think I was nervous, but I didn't really think about it. I didn't really think about being nervous. I just thought about having fun, which I did today. I got nervous right before the match, like, maybe 30 minutes before, and then I just let it go.
“I think I would give myself ... a C-minus?”
Jamie Braidwood9 June 2026 20:19
Queen's: Williams-Mboko to play Fernandez and Siegemund in second round
Williams and Mboko will play Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the second round. Funnily enough, Fernandez partnered Venus Williams at last season’s US Open doubles.
Jamie Braidwood9 June 2026 19:40
Serena Williams wins first tennis match in four years
That was Serena Williams’ first victory in tennis since the second round of the US Open in 2022. That came against the second seed, Anett Kontaveit, before she waved ‘farewell’ in a third-round defeat to Ajla Tomljanovic.
Jamie Braidwood9 June 2026 19:33
Serena Williams on coming back at 44: 'I had nothing better to do!'
Serena Williams: “It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria. She was able to hold up the team on the big points and I could lean on her. It felt very natural.
“I don’t know [what’s to come]. I had nothing better to do! I was sitting at home. I thought, why not? I never got to play here, it was always just the men. It feels very special to play somewhere so iconic. It’s very cool.”
Victora Mboko (who is 25 years younger than Williams): “I feel very honoured to play with you Serena, it’s a privilege. We’re going for more!”
Jamie Braidwood9 June 2026 19:24
*Williams / Mboko 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 Melichar-Martinez / Routliffe
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Another big serve from Williams and she wins her first tennis match in four years! The 44-year-old and Victoria Mboko knock out the third seeds and wave to the crowd!
Jamie Braidwood9 June 2026 19:21
*Williams / Mboko 7-6 (7-2) 5-2 Melichar-Martinez / Routliffe
An exquisite volley from Mboko gets the pair off to the perfect start. Williams goes for the serve and volley but Routliffe somehow claws a return onto the line.
ACE from Williams! She went out wide, and found the angle. She clenches her fist as they move two points from victory. And another ACE! Again out wide from Williams!
It brings match point.
Jamie Braidwood9 June 2026 19:20
*Williams / Mboko 7-6 (7-2) 5-2 Melichar-Martinez / Routliffe
Williams slips slightly when returning behind the baseline, briefly doing a half-split. But she raises a hand to say she’s OK. Melichar-Martinez and Routliffe look to claw their way back from 0-30 down but Williams produces the clipped forehand winner crosscourt to bring break point!
Mboko returns, but Melichar-Martinez produces the body to split the pair and bring deciding point. Winning this would give Williams the chance to serve it out. And they get it! Mboko lands a beautiful backhand return, right onto the line.
Jamie Braidwood9 June 2026 19:16
Williams / Mboko 7-6 (7-2) 4-2 Melichar-Martinez / Routliffe*
Williams dumps what looks like a routine overhead into the net, before backing away from the next one as Mboko directs a powerful forehand down the line. Mboko is pulling the pair through this, and they move two games away.
Jamie Braidwood9 June 2026 19:11
