Serena Williams’ Return to Tennis for Her Daughters

Last weekend, Serena Williams revealed her motivation for returning to professional tennis. Her daughters, Olympia, eight, and Adira, two, were her main inspiration. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion shared her perspective, saying, “I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives, so it’s not that important to me. It’s important that I keep reminding myself of that, because I don’t have anything to prove.” She emphasizes having nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Williams, aged 44, participated in her first match since the 2022 US Open at the HSBC Championships at the Queen’s Club in London on Tuesday. Her daughters and husband, Alexis Ohanian, were present, fulfilling her mission to let them see her play. Although not necessarily aiming for it, Williams and Canadian player Victoria Mboko, 19, nearly won a trophy. Despite being new doubles partners, they smoothly defeated Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in straight sets.

They were set to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the doubles quarterfinals on Thursday. However, Mboko, ranked world No. 9 in singles, sustained an injury during her match against Karolína Plíšková on Wednesday. Forced to retire with a knee injury, Mboko had to withdraw, cutting short Williams’ comeback.

Williams managed the situation gracefully, approaching the game with a mindset focused on enjoyment and setting an example for her children. On Instagram, she shared a carousel of six photos, including one of Olympia watching her serve with a smile. She captioned it, “Some moments mean more than trophies [red heart emoji] @olympiaohanian.”

Williams expressed appreciation for the memorable week at @hsbcchampionships. She wished Mboko a fast recovery, stating, “Can’t wait to see you back on court.” She also shared a photo with Mboko in her Instagram Story, calling her “an incredible talent.” Mboko responded by reposting it with emojis indicating healing and a hug.

Fortunately for her fans, Williams’ comeback has not ended. She is set to participate in the Berlin Tennis Open next week. According to The Times’ tennis correspondent Tom Kershaw, she will pair with Karolina Muchova for doubles. Williams expressed her enthusiasm in a statement on the tournament’s official website, “Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception. I’m excited to compete in front of the German fans and continue building momentum throughout the grass-court season.”