Serena Williams, a legend, defeated a top-class opponent on her return day.

Returning to play after almost four years of absence, Serena Williams has maintained her high caliber and unique appeal.

Tennis legend Serena Williams made an impressive comeback by winning her first match after nearly four years away from professional courts. Alongside young teammate Victoria Mboko, Serena defeated the third-seeded pair Erin Routliffe/Nicole Melichar-Martinez with a score of 7-6, 6-2 in the first round of women's doubles at the Queen's Club Championships 2026 held in London (UK) on the evening of June 9, Vietnam time.

The return of the player who once held 23 Grand Slam singles titles has attracted special attention from the media and tennis fans worldwide. On the familiar grass courts, Serena showed that she still retains many of the qualities that made her name throughout more than two decades of dominating the world tennis scene.

At the age of 44, Serena still creates explosive moments with powerful serves and strong baseline shots. Her performance received enthusiastic support from the crowd at Queen's Club, including the presence of her husband Alexis Ohanian and their two daughters Olympia and Adira in the stands.

"Little Williams" surprised many by deciding to participate in the doubles event at Queen's Club, marking her first return to competition since the 2022 US Open. At that time, she announced she would 'move on to a new chapter in life' rather than using the word 'retirement,' closing one of the greatest careers in sports history.

"It feels wonderful to be back competing. I had a great time partnering with Victoria. This is my first time playing at Queen's Club, and it feels truly special to be at such an iconic venue.", she shared.

Although Serena once denied the possibility of returning in singles, her convincing performance in London is making many people question whether she might appear at the upcoming Wimbledon. With seven titles at the most prestigious grass-court Grand Slam in the world, the 44-year-old player remains a name with special appeal whenever she appears.

After Queen's Club, the former world No. 1 is expected to continue competing in doubles at the Berlin Open, before deciding on her next steps in this surprising comeback journey.