Holding career Golden Slams in singles and doubles, Williams be back in action next week after an extended layoff
Serena Williams, often hailed as the greatest women’s tennis player in history, is making a comeback to competitive tennis next week. This marks her first appearance on the court since the 2022 US Open. At 44, Williams is set to compete in the 2026 HSBC Championships, held at The Queen’s Club in West Kingston, London. This event comes after a four-year hiatus from the sport.
Reflecting on her return, Williams expressed, “Queen’s Club is the ideal place for this new chapter. Playing on grass has been a cornerstone of my career, providing some of my most cherished memories. I’m thrilled to compete once again on one of tennis’s most iconic stages.”
Her participation in the HSBC Championships as a wild card in the 16-team doubles draw, scheduled from June 8-14, signifies a significant moment for the sport. Although Williams never officially retired—stating in 2022 she was “evolving away from tennis”—she shifted her focus to personal ventures, business, and philanthropy. While this tournament is traditionally seen as a lead-up to Wimbledon, it’s premature to speculate on her participation there. Nonetheless, Williams’s record is impressive, with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, and four Olympic gold medals. Her legendary Wimbledon history includes seven singles and six doubles titles, the latter with her sister Venus.
What’s happening? Serena Williams, 44, arguably the greatest women’s tennis player of all-time, will return to the court for the first time since the 2022 US Open next week. Williams has been confirmed as a participant in the 2026 HSBC Championships hosted at The Queen’s Club in West Kingston, London, England, after spending the last four years away from the game.
What Williams said: “Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter. 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.”
What it means: The longtime world No. 1 — with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and four Olympic gold medals to her name — will participate in the HSBC Champions as a wild card entry into the 16-team doubles draw, which runs from June 8-14. Williams is not coming out of retirement, per se, as she never officially hung up her racket. Rather, she said in 2022 that she would be “evolving away from tennis,” which led Williams to focus on personal, business and charitable activities. While the HSBC Championships are often seen as a warm-up for Wimbledon, assuming Williams will play that event, at this juncture, is a stretch. Williams is a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion and six-time doubles champion alongside her sister, Venus.
