Serena Williams made a winning start to her competitive tennis comeback in the doubles event at Queen’s, claiming her first professional victory in nearly four years.
The 44-year-old – making her first appearance since the 2022 US Open – partnered Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko to a 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 victory over third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe.
Williams was given a standing ovation as she walked onto the grass court at the Andy Murray Arena, her debut at the Queen’s Club, with the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion putting in an impressive display.
The unseeded pair will now face either Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund or Dutch duo Alexandra Panova and Demi Schuurs in the next round.
Willams said ahead of featuring at Queen’s she had “nothing to prove” in her competitive comeback, having previously said she was “evolving” away from tennis rather than outright retiring in 2022.
The 14-time Grand Slam doubles champion will also compete in doubles at the Berlin Open in Germany next week, although has yet to confirm whether she will feature at Wimbledon from June 29.
More to follow…
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
