Serena Williams – latest: Live scores from Queen’s as tennis legend makes return

Emma Raducanu immediately looks to get her first-strike tennis going as she takes on qualifier Anna Blinkova, quickly looking to get an aggressive shot away after her serve or following the return. She gets the opening break then races to a second love-hold with an ace out wide.

An assured start – but the rain has come again!

Emma Raducanu is returning to action for the first time since her 6-0 7-6 defeat to Solana Sierra in the first round of the French Open. The British No 1 has still played very few matches in the past three months, since recovering from post-viral symptoms.

“I took a long time away from competing, so I think from Strasbourg and the French Open it did teach me a few things that I can hopefully take into the grass season, but I haven’t had so many matches leading up to it, but I’ve been doing what I can day in, day out, so that’s all I can really (control) myself and keep going.”

Serena Williams said she sees a lot of herself in Victoria Mboko, the Canadian teenager who crowned a rapid rise through the sport by winning the WTA 1000 event in Montreal last season.

“I was impressed with her attitude, and what I liked the most about her was that the next time she played she still kept winning,” Williams said.

“Sometimes you win one and then have a little bit of a low, which is normal, and that’s OK as well. But I loved how she had this drive.”

When Serena Williams’ announcement came a few weeks ago, the expectation was that she could return to singles at Wimbledon after playing a couple of doubles tournaments. However, she said singles was “not my journey right now” and would require more training.

“I can’t say no right now,” Williams said. “I feel like I probably need to train a little bit more if I want to play singles, and we will see if I get there, and if not… that’s not my journey right now.”

A downpour of rain and rumble of thunder means there will be no play until 12pm. Fortunately, the forecast for the afternoon is far more promising and the skies already look brighter.

Serena Williams said part of her motivation for returning to tennis was to play in front of her two children. She returned to tennis following the birth of her first child Olympia and is now doing the same following the birth of Adira in 2023.

“This whole journey is like, I’m putting no pressure on myself,” Williams said. “For me right now, it’s really just about so many elements. It’s really about my kids getting to see me play. Olympia is a little bit older, Adira is very young.

“An athlete is the best thing that you can be in the highest place, and having an opportunity to still be able to do that, possibly one last time, is kind of cool and exciting.”

“Well, why not? For lack of a better explanation. It’s summer, the kids aren’t in school, so it’s a perfect time to get out there, have fun, and see what happens.

“I don’t need to win. I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives, so it’s not that important to me, and it’s important that I keep reminding myself of that, because I don’t have anything to prove. I don’t have anything to lose, and everything here is just to gain.”

Emma Raducanu (GBR) vs. [Q] Anna Blinkova

[WC] Katie Boulter (GBR) vs. [8] Leylah Fernandez (CAN) -To Be Finished (TBF) — Current Score: 3-6, 3-3*

[WC] Mika Stojsavljevic (GBR) vs. [5] Marta Kostyuk (UKR)

[WC] Victoria Mboko (CAN) & Serena Williams (USA) vs [3] Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) & Erin Routliffe (NZL)

Emma Raducanu is the first match of the day on the Andy Murray Arena. The British No 1 will take on qualifier Anna Blinkova from 12pm, weather depending. It will be Raducanu’s first match on the grass this season as she builds towards Wimbledon, a tournament where she has performed well in the past. Raducanu is also scheduled to play doubles today with Katie Boulter, so a busy afternoon coming for her.

Good morning and welcome. Today at Queen’s Club, Serena Williams makes her return to tennis at the age of 44, after almost four years away from the sport. She will play her first competitive match since the 2022 US Open alongside Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, the world No 9 in singles. Together, the wildcard pairing will play third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe from aroundabout 5:30pm this afternoon.