Serena Williams is reportedly preparing for a return to professional tennis, just four years after retiring from the sport.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is in discussions to compete at the Queen's Club tournament in London next month. According to reports, she's requested a doubles wildcard entry for the grass-court event.
The appearance would mark Williams's first competitive tennis match since the 2022 US Open.
To make her comeback possible, Williams quietly re-entered the compulsory anti-doping testing pool last year. She recently completed the required six-month testing period, granting her official eligibility to compete on the WTA Tour.
While she has yet to confirm her pick in doubles partner, former men's No. 1 Andy Roddick claimed Williams was eyeing 19-year-old Canadian standout Victoria Mboko.
The Queen’s Club WTA 500 event begins on June 8th, immediately following the 2026 French Open. Tournament organizers hold two available doubles wildcard slots, allowing them to easily accommodate the 44-year-old legend. Tour rules additionally allow special wildcard entries for former world No. 1 players and Grand Slam champions.
Rumors Link Serena Williams to 2026 Wimbledon Singles Draw
While Williams reportedly remains focused on doubles, the Queen's Club news sparked speculation about her future plans. Roddick predicted that the US superstar will eventually transition back to singles — possibly as early as this year's Wimbledon.
Other tennis stars expressed immediate excitement about Williams's potential return — including former No. 1 Naomi Osaka.
"For me, that's definitely something I would be really excited about — just to see her around the sites and playing matches again," Osaka told press following her latest 2026 French Open victory.
Fellow US standout Madison Keys echoed Osaka's enthusiasm.
"Let's be real, we all want to watch Serena play tennis," said Keys. "You literally get to watch history every single time she takes the court, so why not want more?"
