'Maybe a C-minus?' - how good was Williams' winning return?
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- Serena Williams, playing her first match since the 2022 US Open, teamed with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko to beat third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 at Queen's Club on Tuesday evening.
- Williams had retired in 2022 after a 27-year career and 23 Grand Slam singles titles; her name appeared on the ITIA reinstatements list in February and her doubles comeback was only confirmed the week before the tournament.
- Williams' daughters Olympia (8) and Adira (born 2023) watched from the stands alongside their father, and Adira reportedly asked to go to the toy store mid-match.
- Williams self-graded her performance a "C-minus," citing rusty overheads and slightly sluggish movement, though her serve still hit 120 mph and partner Mboko told her she was "moving great."
- Williams and Mboko will face Canada's Leylah Fernandez and Germany's Laura Siegemund in the second round, with Williams still undecided on entering Wimbledon doubles or a singles return.
- Williams cited the recent comebacks of friends Lindsey Vonn — who watched on in London — and track athlete Allyson Felix as inspiration, saying "you can do anything at any age."
Why it matters: A 44-year-old Williams beating seeded opposition on her first outing in nearly four years reframes the ceiling for aging athletes in tennis, and a deep run at Queen's could pressure her hand on a Wimbledon decision she says is still "a day at a time." The next-round matchup against Fernandez and Siegemund will test whether the rust she acknowledged was first-match jitters or a real limit.
