Serena is returning to pro tennis at 44 after nearly 4 years away

In this file photo, Serena Williams motions a heart to fans during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. (AP)

PARIS, June 1 (AP): Serena Williams is returning to professional tennis at age 44 after nearly four years away from the sport.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has accepted a wild card invitation to play doubles at the upcoming Queen’s Club grass-court tournament, the WTA Tour announced Monday.

The Queen’s Club tournament starts next Monday, and the WTA said Williams will play "with a partner to be announced in due course.”

Williams has not competed since bidding farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, Williams said she didn’t want to use the word "retiring” and instead declared that she was "evolving” away from tennis.

"Serena brought the game to another level, and it is incredible for the sport that she’s pushing the boundaries and coming back,” said Martina Navratilova, the previous oldest former No.1 to launch a comeback after retirement, at 43 years, 10 months.

"To many of the younger players, they never had the opportunity to play her; some may have never watched her on television, so this will be a new and exciting experience,” Navratilova said.

Williams, who has also won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, became eligible to compete in February after re-registering with tennis’ mandatory anti-doping program six months earlier - which is the first step toward a comeback.

Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka, who beat Williams in the 2018 U.S. Open final for her first major title, was excited at the prospect.

"It will bring people to watch tennis,” Osaka said Thursday. "I’m going to be tuned into the first match, for sure. I think a lot of people are. 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.”

A return on grass will raise speculation that Williams also plans to compete at Wimbledon, which starts June 28. She’s won seven singles titles at the All England Club.

Williams recently posted a video on Instagram showing herself training on a hard court with her daughter: "Rumor has it…I got a new trainer,” Williams said in the post.

Williams’ second daughter was born in 2023.