Serena Williams reveals reasons behind shock comeback and singles plans ahead of Queen's and Wimbledon - 'I don't need to win'

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Serena Williams has suggested she will not be playing singles at Wimbledon this summer as she revealed her reasons for returning to tennis following four years away from the game.

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Williams, 44, will be playing at Queen’s this week in doubles alongside Victoria Mboko.

It will be the first time the 23-time Grand Slam champion has competed since stepping away from the sport following the 2022 US Open.

Speaking for the first time about her return, Williams says she has ”nothing to lose”.

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"This whole journey is no pressure, I’ve had enough pressure, it’s about so many elements," Williams said.

"My kids getting to see me play, Olympia is a bit older, Adira is very young. It's moments like that, and an athlete is the best thing you can be in the highest place, and having an opportunity to do that one last time is kind of cool and exciting."

Williams’ comeback will see her play doubles at Queen’s and also in Berlin the following week.

It is expected she will also get a wildcard to play at Wimbledon, which starts on June 29.

However, it does not sound like Williams will be targeting an eighth singles title at SW19.

"For singles? I can’t say yeah, I can’t say no. Right now, no. I feel like I would probably need to train more if I want to play singles and we will see if I get there. That’s not my journey right now,” she said.

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"I don’t need to win, I’ve won more than most people in their whole lives. That is not important to me, and it's important I keep reminding myself of that.

"I don't have anything to prove, I don’t have anything to lose. Everything here is to gain."

There are still several unknowns about Williams’ comeback, including whether she will play singles and how long she will compete on tour again.

Discussing the planning behind her return to the sport, she said: ”I was talking to a few people, chatting about different possibilities, of just having fun, something a bit different, just kept talking and talking, and then I was like 'well, why not?' For a lack of a better explanation.

"Everyone is so supportive, everyone is like, 'What are you thinking?' It’s summer, the kids aren't in school, so it's the perfect time to get out there and just have fun and see what happens.

"I missed the atmosphere, the travel, you don’t think about how much you love it. But I’ve done it my entire life, when you stop doing something like that, you kind of take it for granted. Now there are different things I can try to experience in a different way, and with my family.”

On choosing Mboko as her partner for her doubles comeback, Williams said: ”I saw her play in Montreal last year. She won and I was impressed with her game, her attitude. What I liked the most is the next time she played she kept winning. I loved that. It reminded me a lot of myself.

”Sometimes you win one and then you have a bit of a low, which is OK, but she had this drive."

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