“I have nothing to prove, only things to gain” Serena Williams speaks ahead of her comeback at the HSBC Championships…

Williams, who played her last doubles match with sister Venus at the 2022 US Open, will be teaming up with current world No.9 Victoria Mboko to play in the doubles draw at The Queen’s Club.

Having stepped away from competing four years ago, the former world No.1 is looking forward to her comeback on the tour she spent so much of her life on.

“The biggest thing I’ve missed is the atmosphere and the travel,” Williams said. “I’ve done it literally my whole life, so when you stop doing something you’ve been doing ever since you can remember, I think you take it for granted.

“Now there are different things that I can try to experience in a different way that I’ve never been able to do before, and to do it with my family.”

The 44-year-old, who gave birth to her second child in 2023, is excited to have her family cheering her on from the sideline as both children will get to see her play in West London.

Having picked up 73 singles titles across her career, Williams says she is now more focused on the journey back to competing rather than the scoreline.

“Everyone is so supportive. Everyone was like, what are you thinking, and I’m like it’s summer, the kids are out of school so it’s the perfect time to get out there, have fun and see what happens.

“This whole journey, I’m not putting pressure on myself. I’ve had enough pressure. It’s about my kids getting to see me play. Olympia is a little bit older, Adira is very young, and it’s moments like that.”

“I don’t need to win, I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives and that’s not important to me. I keep reminding myself of that, I have nothing to prove, I don’t have anything to lose, I only have things to gain.

“An athlete is like the best thing you can be, in the highest place, and having the opportunity to still be able to do that one last time was cool and exciting.”