Serena Williams' return to tennis at the HSBC Championships concluded earlier than anticipated after her doubles partner Victoria Mboko withdrew because of an injury. The pair had impressed in their opening match and were scheduled to compete in the quarterfinals at Queen's Club before Mboko was forced to exit the tournament.
Even though her comeback event was cut short, Williams appeared to be making the most of her remaining time in England. The 23-time Grand Slam champion spent time with her family and shared a lighthearted moment with her eight-year-old daughter Olympia on social media.
In an Instagram story, Williams filmed a conversation with Olympia as they prepared for an escape room activity. When Olympia said she did not enjoy escape rooms, Williams jokingly teased her and called her "Baby Grandmother." The tennis star continued the joke by even calling her daughter by the name of her own mother, Oracene.
Williams recently explained that having older children played a significant role in her decision to return to tennis. The American has repeatedly stated that this comeback is about enjoying the sport and having fun rather than chasing results.
Serena Williams explains how Olympia and Adira helped make comeback possible
Before the tournament began, Serena Williams spoke about why she decided to return to competition after retiring in 2022. "Why not?" Serena Williams said. "In December I definitely was not. And then I was just talking to a few people and just, you know, chatting about different possibilities and just having fun. You know, something a little bit different. And so I just kept talking and talking, and then I was like, well why not."
She also said her daughters made the timing feel right. "Olympia is a little bit older," Williams continued. "Adira is very young but it's still moments like that. It's also that an athlete is the best thing that you can be in the highest place. Having an opportunity to still be able to possibly do that one last time is kind of cool and exciting."
Serena Williams praises Victoria Mboko despite Queen's Club withdrawal
Williams also had plenty of praise for Victoria Mboko, the 19-year-old Canadian she chose as her doubles partner. According to Williams, Mboko's consistency caught her attention more than anything else. She said the teenager kept winning even after a big title run, something that reminded her of her own mindset as a young player.
"I was quite impressed with her game," Serena Williams said. "I was impressed with her attitude. What I liked the most about her was that the next time she played, she still kept winning. I was like, 'OK, I love that.' It reminded me a lot of myself."
"Sometimes you win one, and then you have a little bit of a low. Which is normal, and that's OK as well! But I loved how she had this drive," she added.
Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko had upset third seeds Nicole Melichar and Erin Routliffe in the first round. They were scheduled to face Laura Siegemund and Leylah Fernandez in the quarterfinals, but Mboko later suffered an injury during her singles match against Karolina Pliskova and had to withdraw.
