Serena Williams will make her highly anticipated return to professional tennis this week at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club in London, partnering Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in the doubles draw. The 44-year-old Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has not competed since her third-round loss at the 2022 US Open, when she described her departure as "evolving away" from tennis rather than retiring.
Who is Victoria Mboko?
Victoria Mboko is a 19-year-old Canadian ranked No. 9 in the WTA, making her debut at the grass-court event. Mboko has idolised Williams since childhood and expressed her excitement on social media, writing that it was "an honour to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week." Speaking at the French Open, Mboko told press that Williams is her idol and that the two have stayed in touch, which she called "really, really nice."
What is Williams' first-round draw?
Williams and Mboko, who received a wild-card entry, will face third-seeded Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand in their opening match on Tuesday, 9 June. Routliffe is a former World No. 1 in doubles with two Grand Slam titles and reached the 2024 Wimbledon final. Melichar-Martinez has won 19 WTA doubles titles and captured the Wimbledon mixed doubles crown in 2018, though this marks their first tournament appearance as a team.
What comes next for Williams?
The comeback has fuelled speculation that Williams will receive a wildcard to Wimbledon, where she last played in a first-round loss in 2022. Williams has not yet confirmed whether she plans to compete in singles or doubles at the major championships this summer. The HSBC Championships run from 8 to 14 June and mark the beginning of the grass-court swing.
Sources
- Women's Tennis Association: Serena Williams, Victoria Mboko draw No. 3 seeds in HSBC Championships opener. 2026-06-07.
- Women's Tennis Association: Mboko to team with Serena Williams at the HSBC Championships. 2026-06-05.
- NBC Sports: Serena Williams' comeback to begin with 19-year-old doubles partner Victoria Mboko. 2026-06-04.
- The Independent: When is Serena Williams' tennis comeback? How to watch Queen's doubles. 2026-06-08.
Reported from public sources.