BREAKING. Serena Williams teams up with Vicky Mboko to defeat Melichar-Martinez & Routliffe 7-6(2) 6-2 at Queen’s in a high-profile comeback to tennis It was Serena’s first match in four years, but, even at 44, playing alonhside 19-year-old Mboko of Canada, it felt like she never left…

Serena Williams said she had “so much fun” as the American legend rolled back the years in her triumphant return to tennis in the Queen’s Club doubles on Tuesday.

Four years after appearing to end her glittering career, Williams and Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko powered to a 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 win over third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in the first round of the grass-court tournament.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, stunned the sporting world a week ago with her shock announcement that she would compete in the Queen’s Club doubles.

The 44-year-old relished every minute of her remarkable return — after conquering a pre-match bout of nerves.

“I got nervous like, maybe 30 minutes before, and then I just just let it go,” she said.

“I didn’t really think about being nervous, I thought about having fun, which I did.

“It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria.

“I never got to play here before, it was always just the men. It feels really special to play somewhere so iconic.”

Williams’ decision to pick up a racquet in a competitive setting for the first time since losing to Ajla Tomljanovic at the 2022 US Open had sparked questions about the wisdom of her move.

It was like she had never been away as Williams produced her trademark thunderous serve and fearsome ground-strokes to the delight of a capacity crowd.

But Williams wasn’t completely satisfied with her first victory since beating then world number two Anett Kontaveit in the 2022 US Open second round.

“Oh my god! What do you think? A C minus?,” she said when asked to rate her performance.