Queen’s LIVE: Serena Williams makes return to tennis at 44 in first match in four years

Despite some quick hands from Williams at the net, Routliffe is able to blast a way through to hold. Back to Serena to serve.

There was an aguished shriek from Williams as a volley sailed over the back of the baseline. But then she makes ammends with a controlled smash at the net, with Williams and Mboko holding to move two games from the set.

We’ve all been waiting to see Williams step into a groundstroke and she gets the opportunity against the second serve of Melichar-Martinez. The forehand is deep and close to the baseline, with Melichar-Martinez netting on the return.

But Melichar-Martinez / Routliffe get on the board. Routliffe steps in to cut out Williams’ forehand.

Williams is able to find such effortless power when she serves, even when she’s opting for control in breezy conditions. That’s a solid hold, in a game that featured a smart rush to the net and pick-up volley.

Mboko puts on some pressure on the return and Routliffe faces deuce, with Williams on the return. She double-faults and Williams-Mboko get the break.

Williams will now serve.

Williams misses her first volley into the net. Perhaps just a little rusty. She makes no mistake with the second, an angled backhand, as Mboko comes through to hold.

Melichar-Martinez / Routliffe won the toss and elected to receive. Victoria Mboko will serve first, with Serena advancing to the net.

Serena Williams’ impressive tennis resume is announced to the crowd. Just the 23 grand slam singles titles, and 14 in doubles. She has called this return the ‘next chapter’.

The sun is out at Queen’s and steeping onto court, for the first time in four years, is Serena Williams! There is loud applause and cheers and she emerges behind Victoria Mboko, her playing partner who is 25 years younger than her. Williams is wearing a pink dress, with a frilly skirt. She is back.

The Andy Murray Arena, named after the two-time Wimbledon champion following his retirement in 2024, is completely full. There isn’t an empty seat in sight.

Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe have 31 doubles titles between them, but are playing as a pair for the first time at Queen’s this week. Routliffe, like Serena Williams, is a former No 1 in doubles. She is a two-time US Open winner. Together, they are the third seeds and a difficult draw for wildcards Williams and Victoria Mboko.