PARIS (AP) — (*4*) is returning to professional tennis at age 44 after nearly 4 years away from the sport.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has accepted a wild card invitation to play doubles at the upcoming Queen’s Club grass-court event, the WTA Tour introduced Monday,
The Queen’s Club event begins subsequent Monday and the WTA mentioned Williams will play “with a partner to be announced in due course.”
Williams has not competed since bidding farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, Williams mentioned she didn’t need to use the phrase “retiring” and as an alternative declared that she was (*44*) away from tennis.
“Serena brought the game to another level and it is incredible for the sport that she’s pushing the boundaries and coming back,” mentioned Martina Navratilova, the earlier oldest former No.1 to launch a comeback after retirement, at 43 years, 10 months.
“To many of the younger players, they never had the opportunity to play her; some may have never watched her on television so this will be a new and exciting experience,” Navratilova mentioned.
Williams, who has additionally gained 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, became eligible to compete in February after re-registering with tennis’ necessary anti-doping program six months earlier — which is the first step towards a comeback.
Four-time main winner Naomi Osaka, who beat Williams in the 2018 U.S. Open remaining for her first main title, was excited at the prospect.
“It will bring people to watch tennis,” Osaka mentioned Thursday. “I’m going to be tuned into the first match, for sure. I think a lot of people are. Everyone knows Serena and Venus were my role models growing up, so it’s going to be cool to see her on the grounds again.”
A return on grass will increase hypothesis that Williams additionally plans to compete at Wimbledon, which begins June 28. She’s gained seven singles titles at the All England Club.
Williams just lately posted a video on Instagram showing herself training on a tough court docket along with her daughter: “Rumor has it…I got a new trainer,” Williams mentioned in the put up.
Williams’ second daughter was born in 2023.
When it was revealed final 12 months that Williams had signed up to return to the drug-testing pool, she wrote on social media: “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Gauff by no means received to play Williams
“One of my biggest regrets was not being able to play her,” defending French Open champion Coco Gauff mentioned in Paris. “It would be cool for this sport to have a legend back playing.”
American participant, Iva Jovic, 18, additionally sounded thrilled.
“I think it’s amazing. It’s really cool,” she mentioned. “I have never seen Serena in real life. Obviously I grew up watching her. In my entire childhood she was dominating tennis, so it’s going to be incredible.”
Like Osaka, she thinks it’s going to increase tennis usually.
“It’s going to make a lot of headlines and it’s something that people are going to talk about,” Jovic mentioned.
Added fellow American participant Madison Keys, “Serena Williams taking part in tennis is solely good for tennis. Let’s be actual. We all need to watch Serena play tennis.
“I mean, you literally get to watch history every single time she takes the court,” Keys added. “So why not watch more?”
WTA chair Valerie Camillo mentioned that “Serena is one in every of the best athletes of all-time, with a legacy that extends far past the court docket.
“Her return is an expression of her passion for competition and I cannot wait to see her face a new generation of top players,” Camillo added. “Serena is not just a great champion. She’s a successful entrepreneur, a powerful advocate for the issues that matter – and one of the most iconic women in the world. We are thrilled to welcome her back to the WTA Tour at this hugely exciting moment for women’s tennis.”