Serena Williams’ 193km/h tennis comeback in 44 steals the show – Watch

Serena Williams of the United States (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) After nearly four years away from professional tennis, Serena Williams made an impressive return to the court on Tuesday, reminding fans why she remains one of the sport’s best players.The 44-year-old, who played at the Queen’s Club in London, was paired with rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko in the doubles. Despite the long absence, Williams showed she had lost none of her signature power, firing serves at speeds of up to 120 mph (around 193 km/h) and helping the pair secure victory in the straight.Watch:Williams and Mboko beat third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2), 6-2. To cap the win, Williams served out the match in style with two aces and a service winner.The 23-time Grand Slam champion was all smiles after her first professional match since the 2022 US Open.“It was so much fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria,” Williams said in an on-court interview. “She was really able to hold the team together and play really well on the big points. I could really count on her. We had never played together, but it felt so natural to play with her.”

Rising star Mboko is excited to share the court

Mboko, who is only 19 and already ranked No. 9 in the world, was equally delighted to be playing alongside one of tennis’ biggest icons.“I feel very honored to play with Serena,” said Mboko, standing next to the 23-time Grand Slam winner. “I had a lot of fun, if anything. We really hit it off there. I’m so happy to play alongside you. And we’re up for more.” Williams announced last week that she will return to doubles competition, although she has not yet decided whether she will return to singles as well. For now, her winning return and strong serving performance have become one of the biggest topics of the tournament.