Serena Williams is preparing to return to elite tennis on the grass courts at Queen's Club in London about ten days from now. She has been in the drug testing pool for six months and has received clearance to compete at age 44. She is expected to pursue a doubles wildcard with Victoria Mboko, a 19-year-old Canadian ranked No 9 in singles. The Queen's WTA 500 event runs from 8 June, one day after the French Open ends. Williams has trained in Florida for months and has worked with Alycia Parks. She last competed at the 2022 US Open and has previously appeared on retired-player lists before returning to testing. Naomi Osaka and Madison Keys expressed excitement about Williams returning and the impact on tennis viewership.
"Serena Williams is considering a return to elite tennis on the grass courts of Queen's Club in London in 10 days' time. The 23-time grand slam singles champion has been back in the drug testing pool for six months so has a green light to make her comeback aged 44. The Served Podcast, hosted by the former world No 1 Andy Roddick and the veteran journalist L Jon Wertheim, reported that Williams will seek a doubles wildcard alongside Victoria Mboko, the 19-year-old Canadian who is ranked No 9 in singles."
"The second edition of the Queen's WTA 500 event begins on 8 June, a day after the French Open ends. There has been ample speculation about Williams's possible return and the garlanded American has been training in Florida for months. She has been working with Alycia Parks, the No 79, who posted a video of the pair hitting together in March. Williams has not competed since the 2022 US Open."
"Naomi Osaka, who caught up with Williams at the Met Gala earlier this month and is competing at the French Open, was excited about her idol competing again: I don't really care about [the] tennis, she said. I think it's good for me. I'll be very entertained. But overall the scope of it, I think it will bring people to watch tennis, which she always does bring an audience with her. So I think it's good. I'm going to be tuned into the first match, for sure."
"Madison Keys, the world No 5, said: Serena Williams playing tennis is only good for tennis. Let's be real, we all want to watch Serena play tennis. I am excited. I'm going to check some entry lists occasionally, see what pops up. But she's the GOAT, so it would be amazing if she came back. You literally get to watch history every"
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