Victoria Mboko confirmed as Serena Williams’ doubles partner at Queen’s Club Championships
Serena Williams’ doubles partner has been confirmed for the Queen’s Club Championships, with 19-year-old Victoria Mboko joining the tennis legend, reports BritPanorama.
Mboko was voted as the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year in 2025 and is a quarter of a century younger than her playing partner.
The Canadian posted a picture of the pair on the grass at the Queen’s Club, alongside the caption: “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 stepped away from the sport four years ago following her final appearance at the US Open in New York. Upon her return, the American said: “Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter. Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I’m excited to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.”
With 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Williams holds the record as the most successful female player of the Open era, second only to Margaret Court in the all-time rankings. She follows her sister and former doubles partner, Venus Williams, who returned to the tour last year.
When she stopped playing professionally, rather than branding her move as a retirement, the American said she was “evolving away.” Williams previously shut down rumours about a return in December 2025, after she registered with the sport’s drug-testing body, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Athletes returning to testing must provide their availability for sample collection, including specific times and locations. Williams has been eligible to compete since February 22, having spent the required six months back in the anti-doping testing programme.
Queen’s gets underway on Monday, June 8, with Wimbledon following just three weeks later. Valerie Camillo, Chair of the WTA, welcomed her return, stating: “Serena is one of the greatest athletes of all time, with a legacy that extends far beyond the court. Her return is an expression of her passion for competition, and I cannot wait to see her face a new generation of top players.”
As anticipation builds for the Queen’s Club Championships, it stands as a unique moment, not just for Williams and her young partner, but for the sport itself—a vivid reminder of how the past intertwines with the present, each match telling its own story of resilience and passion.
