Serena Williams made a winning comeback at Queen’s on Tuesday, partnering Victoria Mboko to beat Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.
Williams returned after 1,375 days away from tennis and played on the Andy Murray Arena at Queen’s Club in London. The 44-year-old American and 19-year-old Canadian upset the third seeds in 92 minutes.
Williams said after the match that playing with Mboko felt natural. She said Mboko “held up the team” and played well on big points.
Williams last won a match at the 2022 US Open before stepping away from tennis. Her daughters, Olympia and Adira, watched from the stands with their father.
Williams said she had “nothing to prove” before the match and wanted her daughters to see her play.
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The pair will face Leylah Fernandez of Canada and Laura Siegemund of Germany in the second round later this week.
Williams said she would decide later on whether to play doubles at Wimbledon or return to singles.
