Serena Williams’ doubles partner has been confirmed for the Queen’s Club Championships, with 19-year-old Victoria Mboko joining the tennis legend.
Mboko was voted as the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year in 2025 and is a quarter of a century younger than her playing partner.
The Canadian posted a picture of the pair on the grass at the Queen’s Club, alongside the caption: “An honour to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week.
“Even more excited to play doubles together! Tennis is pretty special.”
Serena Williams’ doubles partner has been confirmed as Victoria Mboko
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Williams stepped away from the sport four years ago following her final appearance at the US Open in New York.
Upon her return, the American 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.”
Williams holds 23 Grand Slam singles titles, making her the most successful female player of the Open era and second only to Margaret Court in the all-time rankings.
Williams returns to tennis after dominating the sport for more than two decades
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She follows her sister and former doubles partner, Venus Williams, who returned to the tour last year.
The American featured in an Instagram post with Nike, showing Williams on the court, captioned: “Guess everybody heard the news.”
When she stopped playing professionally, rather than branding her move as a retirement, the American said she was “evolving away”.
Williams previously shut down rumours about a return in December 2025, after she registered with the sport’s drug-testing body, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Serena Williams’s last match was in the third round of the US Open
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She said at the time: “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Athletes returning to testing must provide their availability for sample collection, including specific times and locations.
Williams has been eligible to compete since February 22, having spent the required six months back in the anti-doping testing programme.
Queen’s gets underway on Monday, June 8, with Wimbledon following just three weeks later.
Williams has been eligible to compete since February 22
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Valerie Camillo, Chair of the WTA, welcomed her return, saying: “Serena is one of the greatest athletes of all time, with a legacy that extends far beyond the court.
“Her return is an expression of her passion for competition, and I cannot wait to see her face a new generation of top players.
“Serena is not just a great champion. She’s a successful entrepreneur, a powerful advocate for the issues that matter – and one of the most iconic women in the world.
“We are thrilled to welcome her back to the WTA Tour at this hugely exciting moment for women’s tennis.”
