The Gist
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Serena Williams made a much-anticipated return to tennis this week.
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The 44-year-old athlete competed at the HSBC Championships in London.
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However, she had to end her involvement in the tournament early after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, sustained a knee injury.
Serena Williams made a much-anticipated return to tennis this week when the 44-year-old athlete competed at the HSBC Championships in London.
However, she had to exit the tournament early after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, sustained a knee injury during her singles match on June 10 and withdrew from the competition.
Serena Williams at the HSBC Championships on June 9, 2026.
Credit: Getty Images
Williams and Mboko won their first doubles match on June 9 and were set to compete in the quarterfinals on June 11 against Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund. That match has now been canceled.
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The tennis legend addressed Mboko’s injury in an Instagram post, writing, “Wishing you a speedy recovery, @vickymboko. Can’t wait to see you back on court.”
In her photo dump, Williams also included an image of her practicing alongside her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian, whom she shares with her husband, Alexis Ohanian. In her caption, she also added, “Some moments mean more than trophies. ❤️ @olympiaohanian. What a fun and memorable week at @hsbcchampionships. Thank you to everyone who made it so special.”
Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko at the HSBC Championships on June 9, 2026.
Credit: Getty Images
She also gave another shoutout to Mboko on her Instagram Stories. Alongside a photo of the pair, Williams wrote: “@vickymboko, you’re an incredible talent, and you’ll be back out there in no time. Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
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Williams’s return to tennis was announced on June 1, when the HSBC Championships posted on X, “THE QUEEN RETURNS. Serena Williams is BACK & set for doubles at the #HSBCChampionships!”
In a statement, per ESPN, she reflected on her comeback. “Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter,” she said. “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’s last tennis match was in 2022 at the US Open. Speaking to Vogue that year, she discussed her decision to leave the sport.
“I have never liked the word retirement,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people.”
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She added, “Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”
Serena Williams and her daughter during a practice session on June 10, 2026.
Credit: Getty Images
The four-time Olympic gold medalist is keeping her comeback momentum going, though, despite having to end the HSBC Championships early. Next week, she’s scheduled to play doubles at the Berlin Open, and The Times reported that her partner will be Karolina Muchova.
Read the original article on InStyle
