Tennis icon Serena Williams confirmed on Monday that she will return to the sport, competing in doubles at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club next week.

"Guess everybody heard the news," she wrote in an Instagram video post showing her walking on court, racket in hand. Williams last won a Grand Slam singles title in 2017 and has not competed since the 2022 US Open, during which time she gave birth to two daughters.

The tennis legend never used the word 'retirement,' instead saying she would be "evolving away" from the sport. Speculation about her return was fueled by her re-entry into the anti-doping program in December.

"Queen's Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter," Williams said. "Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I'm excited to be back competing on one of the sport's most iconic stages."

Williams stepped away with 23 Grand Slams and nearly $95 million in prize money, believed to be the highest-paid female athlete of all time. Since then, she has focused on entrepreneurial projects through her venture capital fund Serena Ventures.

Tournament director Laura Robson celebrated the return: "Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, and we're delighted that she will be making her return to tennis at the LTA's HSBC Championships." WTA chair Valerie Camillo added, "We are thrilled to welcome her back to the WTA Tour."

Source: www.dw.com