Serena Williams teams up with young Canadian star at Queen's Club

Serena Williams is making a comeback to professional tennis by joining forces with 19-year-old Canadian player Victoria Mboko in the doubles competition at the Queen's Club Championships. The tournament kicks off on June 8 in London, where Williams will be competing in a WTA 500 event for the first time since the 2022 U. S. Open. Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, hasn’t played professionally in nearly two years. Her sudden return caught many by surprise, especially after she had previously mentioned stepping away from the sport. However, her re-entry into the anti-doping testing pool last year suggested she might be reconsidering her retirement. Now, she’s stepping back onto the court—not as a singles player, but in doubles alongside Mboko.Mboko, ranked ninth in singles, has openly admired Williams for years. At the French Open last week, she called Williams her "idol, " showing just how much the tennis legend means to younger players. Their partnership at Queen’s Club isn’t just a competitive move—it’s a passing of the torch moment. Mboko’s excitement is clear, as she shared in an Instagram post: "The Queen is back. An honor to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week. " Williams and her sister Venus have dominated doubles together, winning 14 Grand Slam titles as a team and never losing in a major final. While this won’t be their first doubles match, it’s Williams’ first official return to professional play in a long time. The question now is whether her skills in doubles can match her legendary singles career.