Serena Williams learns Queen’s doubles opponents for tennis return
Serena Williams will make her return to professional tennis alongside teenager Victoria Mboko against third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in the first round of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club next week.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is making a highly anticipated comeback to the professional game at the age of 44.
Her opening assignment in London pairs the American great with her young Canadian partner against a formidable seeded duo.
This tournament marks the beginning of a newly scheduled grass-court swing for the returning sporting icon.
Raducanu and Boulter form British duo
Elsewhere in the draw, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu will feature in both the singles and doubles competitions.
The British player has been drawn against a qualifier in her opening singles match and avoids top seed Elena Rybakina’s half of the draw.
She will also team up with compatriot Katie Boulter for a high-profile home partnership in the doubles event.
The home pair are scheduled to face Storm Hunter and Shuai Zhang in their first-round grass-court encounter.
Building match fitness for the summer
The legendary American has also added the Berlin Tennis Open to her upcoming schedule as she builds crucial match fitness.
Fans and pundits will be watching closely to see how the veteran handles the physical demands of the tour following her initial retirement.
Her performance at Queen’s will serve as a vital indicator of her readiness for the rigorous grass-court season ahead.
