Serena Williams has immediately hit the ground running on her return to tennis.
Williams is playing doubles with Victoria Mboko at Queen’s, and the pair have just won their opening match.
They defeated Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in Williams’ first match in almost four years, with Laura Siegemund and Leylah Fernandez up next.
Their fellow superstar Emma Raducanu is also playing at the WTA 500 event, where she won her first singles match but lost her doubles opener with Katie Boulter.
Off the court, however, she was tasked with sharing her favorite memory of 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams amid her comeback to the sport.
What is your favorite memory of Serena Williams?
She’s back trying to make more memories…
Emma Raducanu recalls watching ‘special’ Serena Williams at Wimbledon
Raducanu told Tennis Channel: “Actually my first time ever visiting Wimbledon, I watched her play on Centre Court, and she beat someone like one and two in about under an hour.
“But it was the first time I’d ever seen her live, and it stuck with me because it was my first time at Wimbledon.
“It was very special, and she was so dominant, so that would be my favorite one.”
Williams’ doubles partner Mboko also took part in the task, and recalled: “When I watched her at the Rogers Cup when I was really a lot younger.
“Pretty sure she won that year. I was never one to watch a lot of tennis on TV, but every time I was watching tennis, she would win the tournament.”
You can bring one tennis legend out of retirement. Who do you pick and why?
Amanda Anisimova and Iva Jovic share their favorite Serena Williams memory
Like Williams, Mboko and Raducanu, American stars Amanda Anisimova and Iva Jovic are also taking on Queen’s this year.
But off the court they have also looked back on some of the iconic moments from the legendary WTA figure.
Sharing her favorite Williams memory, Anisimova said: “The last time I watched as a spectator at the US Open. It was actually her final match.
“Just like a really full circle moment for me. Pretty sure I was crying when she was playing because I knew it was going to be her last one.
“But now she’s back, and now we get to see her again, which I’m so thrilled about. And it’s so amazing having her back.”
And Jovic recalled: “Watching the Wimbledon final between her and Venus. The sibling rivalry between those two is really cool.
“I have a sister, so it was always really cool to see something like that unfold.”
While it won’t be easy, Williams is now looking to create many more memories on the court, starting at Queen’s.
And she’s already done that after just one match, showing glimpses of her former self in the impressive 7-6(7-2), 6-2 win.
Raducanu has also impressed in the early stages of the tournament, where she now meets Sorana Cirstea after beating Anna Blinkova 6-0, 6-3.
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