Serena Williams enjoys triumphant return to tennis after four years away at Queen's doubles with Victoria Mboko - 'I got tired of sitting at home'

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Serena Williams made a winning return after four years away, securing a 7-6(2) 6-2 doubles victory alongside Victoria Mboko against No. 3 seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez at Queen's.

'I got tired of sitting at home!' - Williams on tennis return after triumphant comeback

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Williams, who last played at the US Open in 2022, said she has "nothing to lose" by returning.

She got straight back to winning ways, coming through relatively comfortably with Mboko in straight sets to advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face either Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund or Alexandra Panova and Demi Schuurs.

Williams was in a jovial mood on court after the match, laughing with the crowd as she explained her - possibly tongue in cheek - main reason for returning to the sport after her lengthy absence:

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"I don’t know [what is to come], I had nothing better to do, I got tired of sitting at home. My kids were out of school for the summer so why not," she joked.

There was very little sign of rust in the first few games for Williams, who held her first service game with a 113mph serve - showing she had certainly not lost much speed in her absence from the tour.

It turned out she was just getting started - later in the set, Williams sent down a 120mph serve.

In front of a packed crowd, Williams nailed some volleys at the net to the delight of her family and friends watching on - along with plenty of players, who had flocked to the balcony to see the return of the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

Williams did cough up a break of serve at 4-2 in the first set with a double fault, that inevitable rust finally showing up.

Mboko was handling the pressure of playing with Williams well, smiling at the cries from the crowd who were vocal throughout the match in support of the duo.

The Canadian is just 19 years old, but is already ranked inside the world’s top 10 in singles after winning two titles last season - and was not letting the occasion get to her.

Despite being a break up early on, Williams and Mboko were taken to a first set tie-break, which they took comfortably 7-2.

At 1-1 and 30-40 in the second set, there was an unusual video review called for by Melichar-Martinez, who had been pinged for the ball touching her hand mid-rally. Alison Hughes said there was not enough evidence to overturn the decision - despite Melichar-Martinez arguing her case at the net.

Victoria Mboko and Serena Williams on court at Queen's

Image credit: Getty Images

As a result, the break went to Williams and Mboko and they then broke again, which left Williams serving for the match, the American smiling as she sent down an ace to bring up match point.

Another huge serve sealed the match for Williams and Mboko, after 90 minutes on court.

"It was so fun, I had so much fun playing with Vicky, she was really able to hold up the team and played great on the big points and I could rely on her," Williams said on court after the match.

"We’ve never played together, but it was so natural to play with her, so it was really fun."

Mboko was quick to return the compliment, the Canadian having held up her end of the court by holding every one of her service games.

"First of all I feel very honoured to play with you Serena, it is such a privilege to play beside you and I had a lot of fun," she said on court.

"We really did that out there so I’m so happy to be playing beside you and... we are going for more!"

Serena Williams of the United States

Image credit: Getty Images

As to why Williams picked Queen's for her return to tennis, she was quick to point to the fact she had never played there - the tournament only expanding to include women again last year.

"I never got to play here, it was always just the men," Williams added.

"It feels really special to play somewhere so iconic, that I saw so many of my friends win and do well in, and just watch so many great matches so it is just cool."

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