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Serena Williams of the United States (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
After astir 4 years distant from nonrecreational tennis, Serena Williams made an awesome instrumentality to the tribunal connected Tuesday, reminding fans wherefore she remains 1 of the sport's top players.Playing astatine Queen's Club successful London, the 44-year-old teamed up with rising Canadian prima Victoria Mboko successful the doubles event.
Despite her agelong absence, Williams showed she has mislaid nary of her trademark power, firing serves astatine speeds of up to 120 mph (around 193 km/h) and helping the brace unafraid a straight-sets victory.Watch:
Williams and Mboko defeated 3rd seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2), 6-2.
To headdress disconnected the win, Williams served retired the lucifer successful benignant with 2 aces and a work winner.The 23-time Grand Slam champion was each smiles aft her archetypal nonrecreational lucifer since the 2022 US Open.“It was truthful fun. I had truthful overmuch amusive playing with Victoria,” Williams said successful an on-court interview. “She truly was capable to clasp up the squad and truly play large connected the large points. I could truly trust connected her. We’ve ne'er played unneurotic but it conscionable felt truthful earthy playing with her.”
Rising prima Mboko thrilled to stock court
Mboko, conscionable 19 years aged and already ranked No. 9 successful the world, was arsenic delighted to play alongside 1 of tennis' biggest icons.“I consciousness precise honoured to play with Serena,” Mboko said, lasting adjacent to the 23-time Grand Slam winner. “I had a batch of fun, if anything. We truly did that retired there. I’m truthful blessed to beryllium playing beside you. And we’re going for more.” Williams announced past week that she would instrumentality to doubles competition, though she has not yet decided whether she volition besides marque a comeback successful singles. For now, her winning instrumentality and almighty serving show person already go 1 of the biggest talking points of the tournament.
