CELEBRITY
Serena Williams had a special moment with her family after winning her first match back in 4 years…
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion returned to the sport for the first time in nearly four years on Tuesday, June 9, in a doubles match at Queen’s Club Championship in London.
Williams, 44, and her partner, Canadian Victoria Mboko, 19, beat Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and American Nicole Melichar-Martinez in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.
Dressed in a light-pink Nike warm-up jacket and tennis dress, Williams received a loud ovation from the crowd at the London tournament. The tennis legend’s husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their daughters, Olympia, 8, and Adira, 2, were also on hand to watch her triumphant return.
Olympian Lindsey Vonn, a friend of Williams’ who also un-retired in her 40s, was in attendance, The Athletic reported.
Williams, who at one point served a 113 mph ace, was fierce on the court, attacking Routliffe and Melichar-Martinez with strong volleys — and looking to be enjoying every single minute of the hour-plus long match.
The event, which often serves as a warm-up for Wimbledon, marks the first of at least two matches on Williams’ schedule.
Last week, Williams announced she’ll also play doubles at the Berlin Tennis Open beginning on June 15, according to the tournament’s website. Her partner has not yet been publicly announced.
For the 39-time major champion, getting back onto the grass may not be limited to just doubles play.
