Tennis great, Serena Williams made a successful return to competitive action after nearly four years away from the sport, helping secure a straight-sets doubles victory at the Queen’s Club Championships in London.

The 44-year-old former world number one teamed up with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko to defeat third-seeded pair Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 before a capacity crowd at the Andy Murray Arena.

The victory marked Williams’ first competitive win since the 2022 US Open and ended a 1,375-day absence from professional tennis.

Speaking after the match, Williams described the experience as enjoyable and praised her young partner’s contribution to the victory, noting that Mboko delivered in key moments throughout the contest.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion retired from professional tennis in 2022 but said part of the motivation behind her return was the opportunity to compete at Queen’s Club, a venue where women’s events were not staged during her playing career.

According to Williams, performing at one of tennis’ most historic venues made the occasion particularly meaningful.

The American star was supported from the stands by her daughters, Olympia and Adira, as she showcased glimpses of the form that established her as one of the sport’s most dominant figures. Her powerful baseline play and trademark serve drew enthusiastic applause from spectators, including a 120mph serve that underlined her enduring ability.

Despite acknowledging some rustiness after such a lengthy break from competition, Williams expressed satisfaction with her performance and remained optimistic about her progress.

The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion stopped short of confirming whether she would make additional appearances, including a possible return to Wimbledon, saying she would assess her future plans gradually.

Williams and Mboko will continue their doubles campaign later this week when they face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the second round.

The victory has reignited speculation about whether Williams, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in tennis history, could extend her comeback beyond doubles competition and make further appearances on the professional circuit.