Just days after confirming her return to professional tennis at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club in London, Serena Williams has added a second event to her schedule. The Berlin Tennis Open announced that the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion will compete in doubles at the grass-court tournament beginning June 15.
Return Extends Beyond Single Appearance
The announcement ensures Williams' comeback stretches beyond one tournament, fueling excitement around one of the most significant returns in recent tennis history. The 44-year-old has not played a professional match since her emotional farewell at the 2022 US Open, where she said she was 'evolving away' from tennis. With Queen's Club followed by Berlin, she appears to be gradually building momentum during the grass-court season.
Berlin Becomes Latest Stop
Tournament organizers confirmed on Friday that Williams will compete in the doubles draw, though her partner has yet to be announced. 'Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception,' Williams said on the tournament's official website. 'I'm excited to compete in front of the German fans and continue building momentum throughout the grass-court season.' The Berlin appearance comes immediately after her return at Queen's Club, where she will partner Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in doubles. This measured approach suggests Williams is rebuilding match fitness through doubles before potentially expanding her schedule.
Queen's Club Reunion with Rising Star
Williams was photographed practicing on the grass courts at Queen's Club alongside 19-year-old Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko. Mboko later confirmed their partnership, calling it a dream scenario. 'The Queen is back. An honor to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week. Even more excited to play doubles together! Tennis is pretty special,' Mboko wrote on Instagram. The partnership carries extra significance as Mboko has previously spoken about her relationship with Williams. 'Me and Serena have stayed in touch, which is really, really nice, because I really look up to her. The fact that she even knows me is very exciting,' Mboko said at the French Open.
While best known for singles, Williams owns one of the greatest doubles records in tennis history. Alongside sister Venus, she captured 14 Grand Slam doubles titles without ever losing a major doubles final. The sisters also won three Olympic gold medals together, adding to Serena's Olympic singles gold.
Comeback Building for Months
Speculation about Williams' return grew steadily since last year when she re-entered the anti-doping programme, a mandatory requirement for WTA Tour players. Though no official announcement came then, her return to the testing pool prompted discussion. Now those rumors have become reality. Williams has not played a competitive match since her farewell at the 2022 US Open nearly four years ago. Her retirement left a career with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 doubles titles, four Olympic gold medals, and 319 weeks as world No. 1. Yet one record remains just out of reach: Margaret Court's 24 major singles championships. Williams has not won a Slam since before the birth of her first daughter in 2017.
Berlin Welcomes a Champion
The Berlin Tennis Open has expressed excitement about Williams' participation. Tournament organizers described her return as one of the biggest stories in tennis and highlighted the calibre of players expected, including nine of the world's top 10: world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 2 Elena Rybakina, and Coco Gauff. The tournament believes Williams' presence will bring a Grand Slam atmosphere to the Steffi-Graf-Stadion. Tournament Director Markus Zoecke said: 'It might be a unique opportunity to see Serena Williams on the court in Berlin again. We are immensely looking forward to her and her matches.' Andrea Petkovic, Director of Excitement of the VANDA Pharmaceuticals BERLIN TENNIS OPEN, added: 'I didn't think that our world-class field featuring nine Top 10 players could be topped. But welcoming Serena Williams to Berlin is pure excitement. It doesn't get any better than that!'
Williams last competed in Berlin in 2008, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Dinara Safina. Now she returns after retirement and a second maternity leave, attempting one of the most remarkable comebacks the sport has seen.
One of Tennis' Most Decorated Careers
Few athletes return carrying a résumé as extensive as Williams'. She won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, including seven Wimbledon crowns, seven Australian Open titles, six US Open championships, and three French Open trophies. She also amassed 367 Grand Slam singles match victories, the most by any woman in tennis history. Her 319 weeks atop the world rankings included 186 consecutive weeks as world No. 1, while her doubles dominance alongside Venus defined an era. Whether the comeback develops into a sustained return remains unclear. What is certain is that Williams' schedule is growing. With Queen's Club and Berlin confirmed, the grass-court season has one of its biggest attractions back on tour, giving tennis fans another chance to watch one of the greatest players ever.
