Serena Williams does not rule out a return to singles competition

One of the greatest tennis players of all time, Serena Williams, has stated that she does not rule out the possibility of returning to singles competition, but stressed that such a step is not in her immediate plans, ahead of her return to the doubles court after almost four years.

The winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles will compete in the tournament in Queens, London, which will be her first competitive match since her farewell at the 2022 US Open.

"I can't say no. I probably need to practice a little more if I want to play singles, so we'll see if I get there. If not, that's not my path right now," Williams said at a news conference.

The American will play in doubles with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, who is 25 years her junior.

Williams, who is now 44, last played a professional match in 2022. At the time, she refused to use the word "retirement", stating that she was "moving away from tennis through evolution".

The former world number one tennis player revealed that back in December she was convinced that she would definitely not return to competition.

"After a few conversations, I thought, why not? It's summer, the kids are out of school, so this is the perfect time to get out on the field, have fun and see what happens," she said.

During her career, Serena has won seven Wimbledon and six US Open singles titles. In doubles, she has won 14 Grand Slam titles, including six at Wimbledon and two in New York, all with her older sister Venus Williams.

Before returning to the court, she said that she was not putting any pressure on herself to achieve results.

"I don't have to win. I've won more than most people win in a lifetime. I have nothing to prove. I have nothing to lose, and I can only win. I'm embarking on this journey without any pressure," Williams said.

Her partner Mboko assessed that the legendary American is physically ready to return.

"She hits the ball fantastically. She has an extremely clean shot and it seems like she's never stopped playing. Personally, I think she's ready. She's very fit and playing very strong, so we'll see what happens," said the young Canadian.