'The Queen is back' - Serena Williams' new doubles partner Victoria Mboko excited for 'special' partnership at Queen's

Williams, 44, finally confirmed speculation over a much-anticipated comeback last week when she said she is ready to start the "next chapter” in her career.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner has not played since the 2022 US Open.

Her comeback will start on the grass at Queen’s as she plays doubles alongside world No. 9 Mboko.

The WTA 500 event runs from June 8-14 and Mboko shared a post on Instagram of herself and Williams on court together.

"The Queen is back," Mboko wrote alongside the photo.

"An honour to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week. Even more excited to play doubles together! Tennis is pretty special."

Williams and Mboko have been given a wildcard into the 16-team doubles draw at Queen’s.

It will be a debut at the tournament for Mboko, who said at the French Open how excited she is to be teaming up with Williams.

"I looked up to her," she said.

"She's my idol, so it's really cool. Me and Serena have stayed in touch, which is really, really nice, because you know, I really look up to her. I mean, the fact that she even knows me is very, it's very exciting.”

Serena’s older sister Venus has said she was as shocked as everyone to hear the news of a comeback.

Venus, who is still playing on the WTA Tour at the age of 45, told TNT Sports that she has not been keeping track of Serena’s form.

”I think that she hits every now and again, I never see her on the court that often, so I’m not sure when she’s been practising honestly,” Venus said.

”I’m honest, I don’t know how her form is but I will tell you she could not hit for four months. I’ll be hitting and she’ll come out, grab her racquet and running shoes and just hits a ton out the ball without ever hitting. 

”Like, it’s incredible, so the quality of her stroke is obviously there. She’s, I think, a little bit of a natural, she’s got a pretty good record, she knows what she’s doing and she’s very tenacious, so I’m not worried about how she’s going to play - even though I haven’t seen her play, which is crazy.”

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