Serena Williams Announces Return to Tennis: Everything We Know
The G.O.A.T. is back.
Serena Williams broke the internet when she announced she is returning to tennis.
"Good news travels fast," she shared via Instagram on Monday, June 1. The accompanying video showed Williams in a white Nike tennis skirt on the tennis court. Her phone is ringing and chiming non-stop.
"Guess everybody heard the news," the video - which was a joint post between Williams and Nike - read.
Her first professional appearance since her retirement will be at next week's HSBC Championships at Queen's Club.
"Queen's Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter," Williams said in a statement, per WTA Tennis. "Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I'm excited to be back competing on one of the sport's most iconic stages."
Williams never officially retired from the sports, however she announced in 2022 that she was "evolving away from tennis" after losing in the US Open to Australia's Ajla Tomljanović.
According to tennis anti-doping laws, a player must give at least six months' written notice of their intent to return to competition, per CNN. However, Williams previously shut down rumors of her return after fans noticed her name appeared on a list on the International Tennis Integrity Agency's website in October 2025.
"Omg yall I'm NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy," she wrote via X in December.
Following the announcement, WTA Tournament Director Laura Robson said, "Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen."
"We're delighted that she will be making her return to tennis at the LTA's HSBC Championships," Robson added. "Women's tennis made a historic return to The Queen's Club last year, and now we have an icon of the game stepping back on to court at this prestigious venue - it's very exciting for the tournament and the fans."
The Queen's Club runs from June 8 to June 14.
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 7:38 AM.