The wait is over for Serena Williams fans around the world. The American tennis legend, holder of 23 Grand Slam titles, announced on Monday, June 1, her return to the courts, putting an end to the speculation surrounding her competitive comeback. Serena is set to return to the stage where she won seven Grand Slam titles: the grass.
Serena Williams officially returns to professional tennis at the Queen’s Club Championships, which kicks off on June 8. The champion will make her debut in doubles, possibly alongside young Canadian prospect Victoria Mboko, who had already hinted at this partnership during a press conference at the French Open. Serena’s presence is a huge boost for the event, which returned to the WTA calendar last year after a 40-year absence and is now in its second edition.
Serena’s first official match is expected to take place between June 9 and 10 at Queen’s Club. However, the tennis world believes this stage will be just a warm-up for something bigger: it is anticipated that the American will request a wild card for Wimbledon, which begins on June 29. The big question everyone wants answered is whether Williams will also return to singles at the legendary All England Lawn Tennis Club.
But why did Serena become eligible to return now? It all started last autumn when the tennis player re-registered with the ITIA Testing Panel, thus complying with anti-doping rules. This registration required her to keep the authorities informed about her whereabouts for random testing. The news emerged in December, and although Serena tried to downplay the rumors at the time, fulfilling the mandatory six-month period allowed her to be officially eligible to compete on the WTA circuit in February.
On social media, Serena confirmed her decision with an emotional video, conveying to fans her certainty about returning. “Grass has given me some of the most significant moments of my career, and I am excited to compete again on one of the most iconic stages in sports,” the champion stated. Her words fall short of reality: seven Wimbledon titles and an Olympic gold medal won on grass are proof of the absolute dominance the American has had on this surface.
The world will be watching in London to witness Serena Williams’ form, as she has not played since the 2022 US Open. Her return could redefine the landscape of women’s tennis, reigniting the flame of one of the greatest athletes the sport has ever seen. The countdown to the return of the queen of tennis has already begun.
This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).
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