Serena Williams made headlines last weekend when she revealed her main motivation for returning to professional tennis. She wanted her daughters, Olympia, eight, and Adira, two, to witness her in action. Despite her illustrious career, Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, emphasized that her comeback isn’t about proving anything. She stated, “I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives, so it’s not that important to me. I don’t have anything to lose, and everything here to just gain.”
At 44, Williams played her first match since the 2022 US Open at the HSBC Championships at the Queen’s Club in London. Her family, including her daughters and husband, Alexis Ohanian, attended, fulfilling her primary goal. Though her comeback wasn’t necessarily focused on winning, she and Canadian tennis player Victoria Mboko, 19, showed excellent teamwork in their doubles match. The duo defeated Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in straight sets.
Unfortunately, their chances were cut short when Mboko suffered a knee injury during her singles match against Karolína Plíšková. She retired from the match and subsequently withdrew from the tournament, ending Williams’ run prematurely.
Williams responded with grace, acting as a role model for her children. She shared an Instagram post featuring photos from the tournament, including a picture of her daughter Olympia watching her play. The caption read, “Some moments mean more than trophies ❤️ @olympiaohanian. What a fun and memorable week at @hsbcchampionships. Thank you to everyone who made it so special. Wishing you a speedy recovery, @vickymboko. Can’t wait to see you back on court.” She also shared a message to Mboko on her Instagram Story, praising her talent and wishing her a quick recovery, which Mboko acknowledged with emojis.
Fans of Williams need not worry, as her comeback journey is not over. Williams is set to play at the Berlin Tennis Open next week. According to tennis correspondent Tom Kershaw from The Times, she will partner with Karolina Muchova in the doubles competition. Williams expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming tournament: “Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception. I’m excited to compete in front of the German fans and continue building momentum throughout the grass-court season.”