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Serena Williams considers return to competitive tennis
Four years after her emotional farewell at the US Open, tennis legend Serena Williams is in talks to compete in doubles at the upcoming WTA 500 event in London. The 44-year-old American could make her comeback at Queen's Club as early as 8 June, though no final decision has been made.
Wildcard eligibility and tournament details
Williams, who completed a six-month return to the drug-testing pool on 22 February, would require a wildcard to enter the grass-court tournament. Organisers have reserved two doubles wildcards, one of which is earmarked for a team featuring either a former world number one, a Grand Slam champion from the past decade, or a current top-30 player-criteria Williams easily meets.
The Served podcast, hosted by ex-world number one Andy Roddick, reported that Williams may partner with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, though BBC Sport has yet to verify this claim.
Historic career and Olympic legacy
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in tennis history, Williams holds 23 Grand Slam singles titles-the most in the Open era and second only to Margaret Court overall. Alongside her sister Venus, she also claimed 14 major women's doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals in the discipline.
Her potential return follows a period of intense speculation about her fitness and future in the sport. Williams has consistently rejected the term "retirement," instead describing her 2022 departure as "evolving away" from tennis after a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanović at the US Open.
Fitness journey and recent interviews
In recent months, Williams has spoken openly about her weight-loss journey, revealing she shed 31lb (14kg) over eight months. In interviews with the Today Show, she described her excess weight as "an opponent" and detailed her rigorous training regimen, which included five-hour daily workouts, running, cycling, and stair climbing.
While she declined to name the weight-loss drug she used, Williams became a spokesperson for Ro, a company marketing GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound (known as Mounjaro in the UK). Her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is an investor in the firm.
In January, Williams hinted at a possible return, telling the Today Show she was "going to see what happens."
Wildcard politics and commercial considerations
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has historically prioritised British players for wildcards at domestic grass-court events. However, LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd acknowledged that "exceptional circumstances"-such as Williams' potential participation-could influence decisions.
"Those wildcard opportunities are afforded to British players-that is absolutely my fundamental personal belief and philosophy. There might be exceptional circumstances which might influence a unique wildcard."
Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive
The LTA's performance director, Michael Bourne, suggested commercial factors could also play a role, noting that wildcard allocations must balance player development with business interests.
Family and records in perspective
Venus Williams, Serena's elder sister by 15 months, continues to compete intermittently on the WTA Tour. The 45-year-old reached the US Open women's doubles quarterfinals last year and has played seven tournaments in 2026, though her last singles victory came in Washington last July.
If Serena returns, she would join an elite group of veterans defying age in tennis. Martina Navratilova holds the Open-era record for the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam singles match, achieving the feat at 47 in 2004. Navratilova also competed in the US Open doubles semifinals in 2005 and won the mixed doubles title in 2006, just shy of her 50th birthday.
