Serena Williams returned to competitive tennis at Queen’s Club, partnering 19‑year‑old Canadian Victoria Mboko in the women’s doubles draw. The pair dispatched third‑seeded Nicole Melichar‑Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7‑6(7‑2) 6‑2, marking Williams’ first match since the 2022 US Open. Their momentum stalled when Mboko retired from her singles match against Karolina Pliskova with a knee injury, forcing a pause for the tournament.

Mboko’s withdrawal leaves Williams without a partner for tomorrow’s second‑round tie against Canadians Layla Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund, casting doubt on her grass‑court campaign. The injury’s severity appeared sufficient to end Mboko’s Wimbledon hopes, a setback for the rising Canadian. Williams, now 44, has already added the Berlin Tennis Open to her comeback itinerary, a new doubles teammate for the rest of the season.

Williams praised the German crowd after her opening win, saying each added tournament fuels her momentum. With the doubles draw now uncertain, she faces a scheduling scramble to secure a partner before the second round. The incident underscores how injuries can reshape a veteran’s comeback, leaving her Berlin appearance as the next concrete target ahead of Wimbledon.