Paris, 2 June

Serena Williams is coming back to professional tennis at the age of 44, returning to the sport she dominated for two decades before famously "evolving" away from the daily grind of competition.

First up for the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is the doubles tournament at Queen's Club. But Wimbledon and the US Open could be next.

“It seems like she's trying to work her way up, maybe to the US Open, and those fans would be so ready to see her back on a singles court there,” former No. 1 Lindsay Davenport said at the French Open after the WTA Tour announced Monday that Williams has accepted a wild-card invitation to play doubles at next week's grass-court tournament in London.

Williams won seven Wimbledon titles and six at the US Open before stepping away from the game in 2022. In doubles, she won six titles at Wimbledon and two at the US Open — all with her older sister Venus Williams. "She's a legend. It's inspiring to see,” top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka said. "I'm excited to see her play and probably face her. ... It's very good news for tennis."

John McEnroe suggested Williams could compete in singles at Wimbledon, which starts on 28 June. "She's not getting any younger, but she's Serena Williams, so I bet you she would tell me about wanting to win the whole damn thing,” McEnroe said in Paris.