Four years after she last picked up a racquet in anger Serena Williams has made her return to professional tennis, and for much of the afternoon at Queen's Club in London it was like she had never been away.
Pairing up with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko the 44-year-old served powerfully and delivered some stunning returns as the duo beat third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (7-2) 6-2.
In front of her daughters Olympia and Adira the 23-time grand slam singles champion received a rapturous reception in early evening sun by a home crowd already cheered by English successes.
Williams last played professionally at the US Open in September 2022, going out to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round in New York in front of more than 20,000 people - a night the Australian has said she'll always remember.
