Tennis great Serena Williams will make her long-anticipated competitive comeback to tennis at the age of 44 on grass at Queen's Club in London next week.
"Queen's Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter," she said in a statement issued by the club, which hosts its women's event from June 8 to 14, on Monday. "Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I'm excited to be back competing on one of the sport's most iconic stages."
Williams may also play in Germany later this month, according to DPA sources. The Bild newspaper also reported that the winner of 23 grand slam titles planned to play at the June 15-21 grass court event in Berlin. Williams, 44, last played in Berlin in 2008 when the event was still played on clay.
The American is expected to play doubles at Queen's with Canadian youngster Victoria Mboko. Mboko did not want to confirm the speculation at the ongoing French Open, saying it was up to Williams to announce if she was returning.
One of the best and most successful players of all time, Williams retired from tennis at the 2022 US Open. Speculation about a comeback started last year when she registered to be doping tested again. She said in January she wasn't sure yet about a comeback and would wait and see. Williams' older sister, Venus Williams, still plays occasionally on the tour.
