French Open stars react to potential Serena Williams comeback news before Wimbledon with heartfelt tributes to tennis legend

The 44-year-old retired from the sport following the 2022 US Open, seemingly bringing down the curtain on her illustrious career which brought 39 Grand Slam titles across singles (23), women's doubles (14) and mixed doubles (two) events.

Williams has been free to return to action since February after completing six months in the anti-doping testing pool - a requirement for players before they are reinstated.

And reports on Thursday said the American is set to make her return by playing doubles at Queen's in London next month, following in the footsteps of her sister and former doubles partner Venus, who made her tennis return in July last year.

As the news of the all-time great potentially returning worked its way around Roland-Garros, a number of stars were asked to give their thoughts.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said that while she does not get particularly excited by tennis news, Williams' potential return is something she will have eyes on.

"I mean, I don't really care about tennis," Osaka said. "I think it's good for me. I'll be very entertained.

"But, yeah, overall the scope of it, I think it will bring people to watch tennis, which she always does bring an audience with her.

"So, yeah, I think it's good. I'm going to be tuned into the first match, for sure. I think a lot of people are.

"I feel like for me everyone knows Serena and Venus were my role models growing up, so it's going to be cool to see her on the grounds again."

When Coco Gauff enjoyed her breakout tournament as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon in 2019, her standout result came in the first round, as she defeated five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round.

She was on the other half of the draw to Serena that year and never played her competitively before retirement. Now, Gauff is glad to hear the news of her compatriot's return.

"Yeah, that would be really cool," Gauff said. "I did say one of my biggest regrets was not being able to play her.

"So, yeah, everybody has been hearing rumours and stuff. So if they are true, I guess we'll find out in a couple days based off the rumours. We'll see, but I think it would be cool for this sport to have a legend back playing."

Victoria Mboko, the Canadian teenager who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top 10 in the past year, said Williams has previously reached out to her.

"I looked up to her," Mboko said. "She's my idol, so it's really cool."

She added: "I'm very happy. You know, 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. I think for me, I want to kind of let the moment for her.

"I feel like if she's ready to come back on her own terms, then I feel like it's up to her to announce that, but other than that, I can't really... I don't really have much to say.

"Yeah, I think the moment is all up to her and when she's ready to come back, yeah, it's up to her."

Asked when they started exchanging messages, Mboko replied: "Yeah, I mean, we sometimes, like here and there, I know she's texted me.

"I can't really tell you the exact date. I don't know. But, I mean, it's really cool that she kind of follows with the results. Yeah, then again, she knows who I am... I can't remember an exact date, but quite a bit of time."

Iva Jovic, America's 18-year-old breakout star, is very much lodged within the new generation of tennis stars who grew up watching a dominant Williams win heaps of silverware.

She is excited by the prospect of her potential return.

"I think it's amazing," Jovic said. "I just saw the confirmation on my phone a couple hours ago. It's really cool. I have never seen Serena in real life.

"Obviously, I grew up watching her. In my entire childhood she was dominating tennis, so it's going to be incredible. I think it's really good for the sport. I think it's going to make a lot of headlines and it's something that people are going to talk about. I'm looking forward to it and I think it's very positive."

British star Katie Boulter, meanwhile, said she would love to partner Williams for her doubles return - having combined with Venus at the Madrid Open last month.

"I mean, I would look forward to that personally myself," Boulter said. "I mean, she's been a leader in our sport for a very long time.

"She's obviously had a kid and to see mums come back as well is so inspirational. I think they don't get enough credit for what they do, and, you know, I mean, of course, I would love to play doubles with her if I had the opportunity.

"Yeah, I mean, it would be fantastic. It would be so fun to watch. Yeah, great. I mean, it really helps our sport."

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