Serena Williams looked as though she’d never left the court as she won her first tennis match in 1,375 days.
The 44-year-old tennis icon – a 23-time grand slam singles champion and 14-time grand slam doubles champion – teamed up with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko at the Queen’s Club on Tuesday (AEST) in a performance that led some to believe the American legend could enter the Wimbledon singles draw.
Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko won in style at the Queen’s Club. Getty Images
The duo secured a commanding 7-6(2), 6-2 victory over the third seed partnership of Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
Williams and Mboko now gear up to play Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarter-finals, before Williams is scheduled to play doubles at the Berlin Open from June 13 to 21.
It is the tantalising prospect of Wimbledon, however, that got tongues wagging after her comeback match. Williams has won the women’s singles title seven times.
Despite the growing excitement, the American star was quick to temper expectations regarding an appearance in the singles draw at Wimbledon when she faced the media.
“Like I said the other day, it’s just a day at a time. I still have a little time to decide, and they (Wimbledon organisers) have been great about giving me that space and time to decide,” Williams said.
The buzz surrounding her return was palpable, with a packed Queen’s Club crowd offering a glimpse of the box-office draw Williams still commands.
Her return in any capacity would be a blessing Wimbledon organisers would surely welcome when the tournament begins on June 29.
“You can do anything at any age,” Williams also told BBC Sport of her return.
“It doesn’t matter as long as you’re healthy and you take care of yourself and you’re happy and you’re doing your best – it’s really all that matters.”
She referenced 41-year-old friend and alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, who was among those cheering from the balcony.
Vonn’s return to competition at the Milano-Cortina Games, however, did not go as smoothly as Williams first outing back on the professional tennis circuit.
Even after a triumphant return to the grass courts, the legend remains undecided on whether this comeback will extend to Wimbledon. In any case, Williams isn’t done captivating the sporting world just yet.