Tennis legend Serena Williams is reportedly planning a sensational comeback at Queen’s Club, nearly four years after her last professional appearance at the 2022 US Open. The 23-time Grand Slam champion is expected to seek a doubles wildcard alongside rising Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, who has emerged as one of the brightest young stars on the WTA Tour.
Mboko admitted she was thrilled by the possibility of partnering Serena, revealing that the two have stayed in touch over the years. Serena, now 44, recently returned to the anti-doping testing pool and has been training ahead of a potential grass-court return, with Wimbledon also being discussed as a possible target.
“Yeah, I’m really happy. Serena and I have stayed in touch, which has been really nice because I truly look up to her. The fact that she even knows who I am is incredibly exciting for me,” Mboko told the reporters at the French Open.
“I want to leave that moment to her, though. If she’s ready to come back on her own terms, then it should be up to her to announce it. Other than that, I don’t have much to say. The moment belongs to her whenever she decides she’s ready to return,” Mboko added.
SERENA HAD RULED OUT COMEBACK CHANCES
Last December, Serena re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) anti-doping testing pool, sparking widespread speculation about a possible return to competitive tennis. The ITIA confirmed to Reuters that Williams had rejoined the pool, a process requiring athletes to comply with specific anti-doping protocols.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion has not competed since her final appearance at the 2022 US Open. However, Williams later firmly dismissed speculation surrounding a comeback, making it clear that rejoining the testing pool did not necessarily signal an imminent return to the sport.
“Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy,” Serena Williams wrote on X. Now, reports linking her with a possible appearance at Queen’s have once again reignited speculation about a potential comeback.
MBOKO THROUGH TO THIRD ROUND
As far as Mboko is concerned, she continued her dream run at the French Open, storming into the third round after a battling comeback victory over Czech star Katerina Siniakova.
The 19-year-old Canadian recovered from a set down to seal a hard-fought win and underline why she is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in women’s tennis.
Mboko, who arrived at Roland Garros in strong form after reaching the Strasbourg final, has now made the third round of the French Open for a second straight year. Earlier in the tournament, she cruised past Nikola Bartunkova in straight sets and has looked increasingly confident on clay.
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