Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, is reportedly in discussions to make a significant return to competitive tennis at the Queen’s Club next month. This potential comeback marks four years since what was widely believed to be her final match. Williams, now 44 years old, is considering participating in the doubles draw at the WTA 500 grass-court event in London, which is scheduled to commence on Monday, June 8.

While nothing has been officially finalized, Williams became eligible to compete once again on February 22, having successfully completed the mandatory six months back in the sport’s drug testing pool. For her to participate, she would require a wildcard entry for the tournament, with two such entries currently available for the doubles draw. The Served podcast, hosted by Andy Roddick, has suggested that Williams plans to partner with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, although this specific detail has not been independently confirmed by BBC Sport.

Williams notably eschewed the term “retirement” in 2022, famously stating that she was “evolving away” from professional tennis. Her last competitive appearance was a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic at the 2022 US Open. This potential return follows several months of speculation and public discussions regarding her weight loss journey. Last year, Williams disclosed on the Today Show that she had lost 31lb (14kg) over an eight-month period, which involved training five hours daily and utilizing a weight-loss drug through Ro, a company for which she now serves as a spokesperson. Her husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, is also an investor in Ro.

Although the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) typically prioritizes British players for wildcard selections, Scott Lloyd, the chief executive, has acknowledged that “exceptional circumstances might influence a unique wildcard” for the doubles category. Furthermore, Michael Bourne, the performance director, indicated that commercial opportunities could also play a role in such decisions. Should Williams indeed make her return, the prestigious Wimbledon championships, where she has secured an impressive seven singles and seven doubles titles, would begin just three weeks later. Her sister, Venus Williams, 45, continues to actively compete on the WTA Tour and has already participated in seven tournaments this year.