Last weekend, Serena Williams shared that one of her main reasons for returning to professional tennis is for her daughters, Olympia, eight, and Adira, two, to witness her on the court. “I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives, so it’s not that important to me. I keep reminding myself of that because I don’t have anything to prove,” Williams stated. “I don’t have anything to lose, and everything here to just gain.”
At 44, Williams played her first match since the 2022 US Open. She participated as a wild card at the HSBC Championships at the Queen’s Club in London on Tuesday. Her daughters and husband, Alexis Ohanian, watched her play. Though her main aim was personal, success was within reach as she paired with Canadian Victoria Mboko, 19, potentially to win a trophy.
Playing doubles for the first time together, Williams and Mboko appeared well-coordinated, achieving a decisive victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe. They intended to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the doubles quarterfinals on Thursday. However, Mboko sustained a knee injury during her singles match against Karolína Plíšková on Wednesday, leading to her withdrawal from the tournament. This incident unfortunately cut short Williams’ comeback.
Williams handled the situation gracefully, focusing on her enjoyment of the game and the example she sets for her children. She shared an Instagram post featuring six photos, including one of Olympia smiling while watching her serve. “Some moments mean more than trophies ❤️ @olympiaohanian,” Williams captioned. “What a fun and memorable week at @hsbcchampionships. Thank you to everyone who made it so special. Wishing you a speedy recovery, @vickymboko. Can’t wait to see you back on court.” She also posted a photo with Mboko and a supportive message saying, “You’re an incredible talent, and you’ll be back out there in no time. Wishing you a speedy recovery.” Mboko shared this with a mending heart and hugging emoji.
Fortunately for fans, Williams’ return to tennis is ongoing. She is slated to compete at the Berlin Tennis Open next week, planning to play doubles with Karolina Muchova. Tom Kershaw, The Times’ tennis correspondent, reported this development. “Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception,” Williams said in a statement on the official website of the tournament. “I’m excited to compete in front of the German fans and continue building momentum throughout the grass-court season.”
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