Serena Williams issues update on singles return while revealing reason for comeback

Serena Williams has revealed whether she is tempted to return to singles tennis while detailing the reason behind her shock retirement U-turn.

Twenty-three-time Grand Slam singles champion Williams, 44, announced she would be returning to the court last week, with the American set to partner Canadian 19-year-old Victoria Mboko in the Queen’s women’s doubles round of 16 on Tuesday (June 9).

The duo are set to take on Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.

Williams has not played a professional tennis match since calling time on her illustrious career after the 2022 US Open.

So, given all she has achieved, why is the American making a surprise return to action?

According to Williams, her return is not about winning more trophies and instead she is keen for her children to witness her in action.

"This whole journey is like, I'm putting no pressure on myself,” she said after training alongside Mboko at Queen’s Club on Sunday.

"For me right now, it's really just about so many elements. It's really about my kids getting to see me play. Olympia is a little bit older, Adira is very young.”

Olympia is aged eight, while Adira is two and was born after her mother’s retirement.

She continued: "Being an athlete at the highest level is the best thing that you can be, and having an opportunity to still be able to do that, possibly one last time, is kind of cool and exciting."

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Further explaining her retirement U-turn, she quipped: "It's summer, the kids aren't in school, so it's a perfect time to get out there, have fun, and see what happens."

Alongside her upcoming appearance at the HSBC Championships in London, she will also play at the Berlin Tennis Open later in June ahead of a potential Wimbledon wildcard pick.

Will Serena Williams return to singles competition?

Maybe.

When pressed on a potential return to singles, she refused to rule it out, saying: "I can't say no right now.

"I feel like I probably need to train a little bit more if I want to play singles, and we will see if I get there, and if not, that's not my journey right now."

Williams has won the Wimbledon women’s singles title seven times and has also claimed six doubles titles at the tournament. She has 14 Grand Slam doubles titles overall, all with her sister Venus.