Icon Encore: Serena Williams to Launch Comeback at Queen’s Club
By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, June 1, 2026
Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty
Champions come and go.
Legends never leave us.
Former world No. 1 Serena Williams will launch her highly-anticipated comeback at the WTA 500-level tournament on the grass courts of Queen’s Club, set for June 8-15th, the WTA Tour announced today.
Iconic champion Serena will make her comeback on the iconic Queen’s Club grass this month in preparation for playing Wimbledon.
“Good news travels fast,” the seven-time Wimbledon winner posted on social media.
Good news travels fast. pic.twitter.com/R7x7EFPUJ8
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 1, 2026
The 44-year-old superstar returns nearly four years after she bowed to Ajla Tomljanovic in her final professional match at the 2022 US Open.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena has accepted a wild card into Queen’s Club where she’s expected to play doubles with 19-year-old Canadian star Victoria Mboko.
“Serena brought the game to another level and it is incredible for the sport that she’s pushing the boundaries and coming back,” said Martina Navratilova, the previous oldest WTA World 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.”
Four-time Olympic gold-medal champion Serena played her first WTA qualifying match at the 1995 Québec City—four years before her inspired run to the 1999 US Open championship where she defeated world No. 1 Martina Hingis to capture her maiden Grand Slam championship.
Grand Slam king Djokovic predicted Serena would aim to return for a grass-court event before playing Wimbledon, which starts on June 29th.
“I pick that one [Wimbledon] as well as her comeback, but yeah, I don’t know,” Djokovic said. “I think she might maybe play a doubles tournament or two with Venus. That would be nice to see, just from my point of view and tennis fans, for sure.
“Yeah, and she’s one of the greatest athletes, really. It would be great to have her back too.”
Photo credit: Christopher Levy
Alycia Parks, who has practiced with the former world No. 1, told Tennis Majors Serena “would kill it on Tour” if she comes back.
“She is in great shape. So I think she would kill it on tour,” Parks told Tennis Majors in an exclusive interview.
Overall, Serena Williams owns an 858-156 singles record with 73 career singles crowns. Serena Williams, who partnered older sister Venus to a perfect 14-0 record in doubles Grand Slam finals, has earned more than $95 Million in career prize money.
Now, the mother of two daughters is coming back to revive of the one of the sport’s most impactful careers.
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