Williams, who holds career Golden Slam titles in singles and doubles, will return to action next week after an extended layoff.
June 1, 2026
10:47am (Eastern Standard Time)
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1 minute read
what’s happening? Serena Williams, 44, perhaps the greatest female tennis player of all time, will return to the court next week for the first time since the 2022 US Open. Williams, who has been away from the game for the past four years, has been confirmed as a participant in the 2026 HSBC Championship to be held at the Queen’s Club in West Kingston, London, England.
Mr Williams said: “I feel like the Queen’s Club is the perfect place to start my next chapter. Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I’m excited to compete again on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.”
meaning: The longtime world number one, who boasts 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and four Olympic gold medals, will compete at the HSBC Champions as a wildcard entry in the 16-team doubles draw from June 8th to 14th. Williams has never officially hung up his racket, so it’s not a return from retirement per se. Rather, she said she would “evolve away from tennis” in 2022, leading Williams to focus on her personal, business and philanthropic endeavors. The HSBC Championship is often seen as a prelude to Wimbledon, but it would be unreasonable to assume that Williams will play in the tournament at this point. Williams has won seven singles titles at Wimbledon and, along with her sister Venus, has won six doubles titles.
