Serena Williams to return to professional tennis at 44

Serena Williams is set to return to professional tennis at age 44 after nearly four years away from the sport. The 23time Grand Slam singles champion has accepted a wildcard entry to play doubles at the Queen's Club grasscourt tournament in London, which begins June 8. Williams last competed on the WTA Tour at the 2022 U.S. Open. In a statement, she said Queen's Club felt like the right place to start this next phase, pointing to her history and success on grass courts. Her return has also prompted speculation about a possible appearance at Wimbledon later this month. The announcement drew strong reactions from current and former players, including Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Martina Navratilova, Lindsay Davenport and John McEnroe. Williams has also recently resumed training and reregistered with tennis' antidoping program earlier this year, a required step before competition.