Serena Williams expected to make competitive comeback as she returns at Queen’s Club

LONDON: The former tennis player No1 Serena Williams will make her long-anticipated competitive comeback to tennis at the age of 44 on grass at Queen’s Club in London this month as a wildcard entry into the doubles draw, according to the club said.

Serena Williams played her last game on the WTA Tour in September 2022, when she retired from professional tennis after a third-round loss at the US Open.

“Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter. Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I’m excited to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages,” the 23-time Grand Slam champion was quoted as saying.

The 44-year-old had re-entered the sport’s anti-doping pool last year, turning rumours related to her return into truth, Reuters cited. The rumours continued to exist because she playfully dodged questions about coming back in an interview on NBC.

Earlier, Serbian player Novak Djokovic said that the US player’s comeback could target Wimbledon, while Rick Macci who was her former coach also said that she was “going all out” in training to get ready for a return to the sport.

The tennis has witnessed her dominating the top position for two decades along with her sister Venus, who is a seven-time Grand Slam winner.

Venus, who is a year or so older than Serena, competed at the Australian Open in January as a wildcard and is still playing.