New York: Serena Williams, arguably the greatest of all time (GOAT) among female athletes, will return to competitive tennis after four years at the age of 44!
Serena, who stopped playing after losing in women’s singles third round and women’s doubles first round of the 2022 US Open, will play in women’s doubles at the Queen’s Championship in London next week.
One of the most successful women’s tennis players, Serena won 23 Grand Slam singles titles – one short of Aussie Margaret Court’s record – besides 14 women’s doubles (all with elder sister Venus) and 2 mixed doubles Grand Slam crowns.
Serena had given a hint of a comeback after she appeared on the International Testing Agency’s (ITA) anti-doping list among the return to competition list.
For the unversed, any athlete who wishes to start playing after a big gap needs to give the ITA a notice of six months.
“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,” Serena said in a video message.
Serena’s return to tennis is even remarkable as she is a mother of two kids. Married to Alexis Ohanian, the couple has two daughters – 8-year-old Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr and 2-year-old Adira River Ohanian.
