Tennis icon Serena Williams is continuing her highly anticipated return to professional tennis, with organizers of the Berlin WTA Open confirming Friday that the 44-year-old American will compete in the tournament’s women’s doubles draw this June. This marks the next stop on Williams’ comeback trail, nearly four years after she stepped away from full-time competitive play.
In an official statement released alongside the announcement, Williams emphasized the significance of adding each new stop to her comeback schedule. “Every tournament I add to my schedule right now is special, and Berlin is no exception,” she said. “I look forward to playing in front of the German crowd and continuing to build momentum for the grass-court season.” Organizers noted that Williams’ doubles partner will be revealed at a later date, as preparations for the event continue to take shape.
The confirmation comes just days after Williams announced her return to the tour earlier this week, confirming she will kick off her comeback at London’s Queen’s Club tournament, which gets underway on June 8. The Berlin Open, hosted in Germany’s capital, is scheduled to open its doors on June 15, serving as a key traditional warm-up event for the 2025 Wimbledon Championships that kick off on June 29. This year’s edition of the Berlin tournament already boasts an incredibly competitive field, with nine of the top 10 players on the WTA tour set to compete at the west Berlin venue.
Williams’ most recent full-time tour appearance came more than two years ago, when she bowed out in the third round of the 2022 US Open, in what was widely expected to be her final professional tournament. After stepping away to focus on other pursuits and family, her surprise comeback has sent shockwaves of excitement through the global tennis community.
Following the Berlin event, Williams will have two additional pre-Wimbledon tune-up tournaments to refine her form: one in Bad Homburg, Germany, and another in Eastbourne, England, before she competes at the All England Club. For Williams, Wimbledon has long been one of the most successful stops of her legendary career: she has claimed seven singles titles and six doubles titles at the grass-court Grand Slam over the course of decades on the tour.