Who will Serena Williams play in her first tournament back?
Who will Serena Williams play in her first tournament back?
Nancy Armour, USA TODAYSat, June 6, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC·3 min read
Let the comeback begin.
Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko now know who they'll play at the HSBC Championships, also known as Queen's Club, after the June 6 doubles draw for Williams' return to tennis. The tournament will be Williams' first since the U.S. Open in 2022.
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Williams and Mboko will begin the tournament on either Monday, June 8 or on Tuesday, June 9 with times still to be determined. They are facing Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe.
Queen's is a grass tournament, and Williams said that was a factor in making her return there. Of her 23 Grand Slam titles, seven came at Wimbledon.
"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 said.
Though Williams has not yet said if she'll play Wimbledon, also on grass, Queen's is a tune-up for that major.
When are the HSBC Championships?
The HSBC Championships are June 8-21.
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The women's tournament is first, beginning June 8, with singles and doubles. The finals are June 14, and the men's tournament begins the following day.
Where are the HSBC Championships?
The HSBC Championships are played at The Queen's Club in London.
Who is Serena Williams playing with?
Serena Williams is playing doubles at Queen's with Victoria Mboko. The 19-year-old from Canada is currently ranked No. 9 in the world in singles.
"Me and Serena have stayed in touch, which is really, really nice, because you know, I really look up to her. I mean, the fact that she even knows me is very, it's very exciting," Mboko said, laughing, at the French Open.
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Mboko has won two WTA titles in her career. She most recently played at the French Open, where she lost in the third round to American Madison Keys.
Serena Williams' doubles history
Though best known for her 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Serena Williams is also an exceptional doubles player.
She and older sister Venus won 14 Grand Slam titles, and never lost a final at a major. They also won three Olympic gold medals in doubles, making Serena Williams the only player in tennis history to win the Golden Slam in both singles and doubles. (The Golden Slam is winning Wimbledon and the Australian, French and U.S. Opens, as well as the Olympic gold medal.)
Serena Williams of the USA reacts after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia on day five of the 2022 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 2, 2022. It was her last competitive match. After a four-year layoff, Serena Williams will be the center of attention in her return to competitive tennis at the Queen's Club in London.
Williams, 44, received a wild-card entry to play doubles at the HSBC Championships, which begin this weekend and serve as a grass-court tuneup for Wimbledon later this month.
Her doubles partner has not yet been announced.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion hasn't played a competitive event since losing to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open. However, she is eligible to compete again after rejoining the sport's drug testing pool and reaching the mandatory six-month mark back in February. Look at what Serena has been up to since her last match.
(Robert Deutsch, Imagn Images)Serena Williams attends the Michael Kors Collection Spring/Summer 2023 Runway Show on Sept.14, 2022 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images for Michael Kors)Founding & Managing Partner ofÊSerena Ventures Serena Williams speaks onstage during TechCrunch Disrupt 2022 on Oct. 19, 2022 in San Francisco, Calif. (Kimberly White, Getty Images for TechCrunch)Serena Williams attends Michelob Ultra & Netflix "Full Swing" Premiere & Super Bowl After Party on Feb. 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Ariz. (Daniel Boczarski, Getty Images for Michelob ULTRA)Serena Williams attends the 54th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Feb. 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Calif. (Frazer Harrison, Getty Images)Serena Williams accepts the Jackie Robinson Sports Award onstage during the 54th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Feb. 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Calif. (Leon Bennett, Getty Images for BET)Serena Williams attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2023 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images)Ludacris, Venus Williams and Serena Williams watch the grid presentation prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 7, 2023 in Miami, Fla. (Chris Graythen, Getty Images)Serena Williams, Fashion Icon Award winner, attends the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History on Nov. 6, 2023 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images)Serena Williams attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jon Platt at The Beverly Hilton on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Amy Sussman, Getty Images)Former tennis player Serena Williams poses as she arrives for the presentation of creations by Balenciaga for the Women Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2024/2025 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on March 3, 2024. (JULIEN DE ROSA, AFP via Getty Images)Serena Williams leaves The Mark Hotel for the Met Gala, the annual fundraising gala held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on May 6, 2024. (Jasper Colt, USA TODAY)Serena Williams walks the runway during Vogue World: Paris at Place Vendome on June 23, 2024 in Paris, France. (Marc Piasecki, Getty Images for Vogue)(L-R) Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian attend the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, Calif. (Frazer Harrison, Getty Images)Serena Williams accepts the Legend Award onstage at the 2024 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on July 13, 2024 in Santa Monica, Calif. (Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images)Serena Williams attends 'Prelude to the Olympics' at Fondation Louis Vuitton on July 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Arnold Jerocki, Getty Images for LVMH x Vogue x NBC)Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Spike Lee attend 'Prelude to the Olympics' at Fondation Louis Vuitton on July 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Victor Boyko, Getty Images for LVMH x Vogue x NBC)Serena Williams attends the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)President of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Organising Committee (Cojo) Tony Estanguet (second row C), US former tennis player Serena Williams (second row C-R) and her daughter Olympia wait for the start of the artistic gymnastics women's team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT, AFP via Getty Images)Former US professional tennis player Serena Williams (L) and US musician Alicia Keys (R) watch Russia's Andrey Rublev and Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov during their men's singles round of 16 match on day seven of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on Sept. 1, 2024. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP via Getty Images)(L-R) Oprah, Titus Kaphar and Serena Williams attend the after party for the Los Angeles Premiere of Roadside Attractions' "Exhibiting Forgiveness" at the Gagosian on Sept. 12, 2024 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Amy Sussman, Getty Images)Serena Williams speaks onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Dec. 4, 2024 in New York City. (Eugene Gologursky, Getty Images for The New York Times)Serena Williams performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans, La. (Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)Serena Williams attends the 2025 TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2025 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for TIME)(L-R) Dani Burger, Bloomberg TV Anchor and Serena Wlliams speak onstage during day 2 of the America Business Forum at Kaseya Center on Nov. 6, 2025 in Miami, Fla. (Alexander Tamargo, Getty Images for America Business Forum)(L-R) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Serena Williams and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the 2025 Baby2Baby Gala Presented By Paul Mitchell at Pacific Design Center on Nov. 8, 2025 in West Hollywood, Calif. (Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for Baby2Baby)Serena Williams attends the 2025 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell at Pacific Design Center on Nov. 8, 2025 in West Hollywood, Calif. (Monica Schipper, Getty Images)Serena Williams arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026. (ANGELA WEISS, AFP via Getty Images)1 / 28
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams attends the Michael Kors Collection Spring/Summer 2023 Runway Show on Sept.14, 2022 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images for Michael Kors)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Founding & Managing Partner ofÊSerena Ventures Serena Williams speaks onstage during TechCrunch Disrupt 2022 on Oct. 19, 2022 in San Francisco, Calif. (Kimberly White, Getty Images for TechCrunch)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams attends Michelob Ultra & Netflix "Full Swing" Premiere & Super Bowl After Party on Feb. 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Ariz. (Daniel Boczarski, Getty Images for Michelob ULTRA)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams attends the 54th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Feb. 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Calif. (Frazer Harrison, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams accepts the Jackie Robinson Sports Award onstage during the 54th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Feb. 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Calif. (Leon Bennett, Getty Images for BET)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2023 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Ludacris, Venus Williams and Serena Williams watch the grid presentation prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 7, 2023 in Miami, Fla. (Chris Graythen, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams, Fashion Icon Award winner, attends the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History on Nov. 6, 2023 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jon Platt at The Beverly Hilton on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Amy Sussman, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Former tennis player Serena Williams poses as she arrives for the presentation of creations by Balenciaga for the Women Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2024/2025 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on March 3, 2024. (JULIEN DE ROSA, AFP via Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams leaves The Mark Hotel for the Met Gala, the annual fundraising gala held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on May 6, 2024. (Jasper Colt, USA TODAY)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams walks the runway during Vogue World: Paris at Place Vendome on June 23, 2024 in Paris, France. (Marc Piasecki, Getty Images for Vogue)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
(L-R) Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian attend the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, Calif. (Frazer Harrison, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams accepts the Legend Award onstage at the 2024 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on July 13, 2024 in Santa Monica, Calif. (Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams attends 'Prelude to the Olympics' at Fondation Louis Vuitton on July 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Arnold Jerocki, Getty Images for LVMH x Vogue x NBC)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Spike Lee attend 'Prelude to the Olympics' at Fondation Louis Vuitton on July 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Victor Boyko, Getty Images for LVMH x Vogue x NBC)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams attends the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
President of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Organising Committee (Cojo) Tony Estanguet (second row C), US former tennis player Serena Williams (second row C-R) and her daughter Olympia wait for the start of the artistic gymnastics women's team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT, AFP via Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Former US professional tennis player Serena Williams (L) and US musician Alicia Keys (R) watch Russia's Andrey Rublev and Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov during their men's singles round of 16 match on day seven of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on Sept. 1, 2024. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP via Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
(L-R) Oprah, Titus Kaphar and Serena Williams attend the after party for the Los Angeles Premiere of Roadside Attractions' "Exhibiting Forgiveness" at the Gagosian on Sept. 12, 2024 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Amy Sussman, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams speaks onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Dec. 4, 2024 in New York City. (Eugene Gologursky, Getty Images for The New York Times)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans, La. (Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams attends the 2025 TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2025 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for TIME)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
(L-R) Dani Burger, Bloomberg TV Anchor and Serena Wlliams speak onstage during day 2 of the America Business Forum at Kaseya Center on Nov. 6, 2025 in Miami, Fla. (Alexander Tamargo, Getty Images for America Business Forum)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
(L-R) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Serena Williams and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the 2025 Baby2Baby Gala Presented By Paul Mitchell at Pacific Design Center on Nov. 8, 2025 in West Hollywood, Calif. (Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams attends the 2025 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell at Pacific Design Center on Nov. 8, 2025 in West Hollywood, Calif. (Monica Schipper, Getty Images)
What has Serena Williams been doing after her tennis career? A lot!
Serena Williams arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026. (ANGELA WEISS, AFP via Getty Images)
When is the last time Serena Williams played?
Serena Williams hasn't played since the U.S. Open in 2022.
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Williams said at the time that she and husband Alexis Ohanian wanted more children; their second daughter, Adira, was born in August 2023. Williams later said she'd also been plagued by joint pain after having her first daughter, Olympia, in 2017.
Now 44, Williams lost 31 pounds after going on a GLP-1 drug, and credited the medication with finally helping relieve the joint pain. She indicated last fall she was at least considering a comeback by rejoining the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s drug-testing pool, a requirement to play again. Williams was reinstated Feb. 22.
“She's hitting good," Parks told the Tennis Channel in a March 19 interview. “She's definitely fit. She looks great and she's hitting the ball amazing.”
Now the whole world will get to see for themselves.