Serena Williams will partner Karolina Muchova at this week’s Berlin Open – live on Sky Sports – as the 23-time Grand Slam champion re-debuts at 593rd in the doubles rankings.
Williams’ comeback in the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club ended prematurely after her doubles partner Victoria Mboko was forced to withdraw with a left knee injury.
After nearly four years away, Williams will continue her comeback in Berlin – live on Sky Sports Tennis at around 4.30pm on Tuesday – and could seek a wildcard for the Wimbledon championships.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Serena Williams speaks about her shock return to tennis
The 44-year-old American great will partner world No 10 Karolina Muchova in the women’s doubles against Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe with the match scheduled for Tuesday at the Steffi Graf Stadion.
The winner of that clash will take on third seeds Melichar-Martinez and Sara Errani or Chinese duo Jiang Xinyu and Xu Yifan in the second round while top seeds Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic could await in the semi-final.
Second seeds Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai are the headline draw in the lower half of the draw and they kick their campaign off against Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls with fourth seeds Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs projected semi-final opponents.
WTA doubles rankings
“Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception,” the American said about playing in Berlin.
“I’m excited to compete in front of the German fans and continue building momentum throughout the grass-court season.”
Neither Williams or the All England Club have confirmed whether she’ll play Wimbledon later this month.
“It’s just a day at a time,” Williams said in regard to playing the season’s third major. “I still have a little time to decide, and they have been great about giving me that space and time to decide.”
Murray delivers verdict on Williams’ return
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Judy Murray discusses Williams’ comeback to tennis
Judy Murray said Williams played at an “incredibly high level” at Queen’s and was impressed with her performance.
“I’m not sure that anybody expected her to come back when she retired, I think it was back in 2022,” she told Sky Sports.
“She has her two children now, but she’s been playing a load; she’s obviously got herself into really good shape, fit, ready to compete again.
“I’m guessing she probably missed it a lot, as well.
“I saw a clip where she was saying that it was really important to her that her kids saw her playing, so they knew who she was and what she did.
“I absolutely loved the fact that her husband and her kids were courtside and greeted her when she came off.
“But she showed that she’s still playing at a remarkably high level, playing doubles with Victoria Mboko at the WTA event in Queen’s, and winning her first match!
“And huge crowd support there, and huge fan base behind her, it’s great, another mum coming back into the game successfully, brilliant.”
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
