Four years vanished in an instant. One moment Serena Williams was contemplating life beyond the baseline, the next she was crushing forehands and thundering down aces at Queen’s Club like she’d never left. The 44-year-old legend rolled back the years on Tuesday, partnering Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko to a stunning 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 victory over third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.

It was tennis theatre at its finest. A 23-time Grand Slam singles champion defying time, expectation and a four-year competitive hiatus to remind the world why she remains one of sport’s most iconic figures.

Williams stunned the sporting world a week ago when she announced her shock return to competitive tennis at Queen’s Club. The decision sparked debate, raised eyebrows and sent fans into meltdown. Could she really compete after such a lengthy absence? Would the magic still be there?

The answer, emphatically, is yes.

Pre-match nerves couldn’t derail the comeback

Even legends get the jitters. Williams admitted to a bout of pre-match nerves that struck just 30 minutes before she walked onto the hallowed grass at Queen’s Club.

“I got nervous like, maybe 30 minutes before, and then I just just let it go,” Williams revealed. “I didn’t really think about being nervous, I thought about having fun, which I did.”

And fun she had. The American’s trademark power serve and fearsome ground-strokes were on full display, much to the delight of a capacity crowd who witnessed something special, a piece of living history competing at a venue she’d never graced before.

“It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria,” Williams said. “I never got to play here before, it was always just the men. It feels really special to play somewhere so iconic.”

The ruthless competitor still demands perfection

Despite producing a performance that would have satisfied most mortals, Williams wasn’t about to hand herself any participation trophies. When asked to rate her showing, the perfectionist in her came roaring out.

“Oh my god! What do you think? A C minus?” she said with typical candour. “All the elements, considering coming back on grass is probably not the easiest surface. On the grass, four years… Overall I think it was decent.”

Decent? Tell that to Routliffe and Melichar-Martinez, who were dismantled by a player who looked like she’d been competing week-in, week-out rather than raising two young children and building a business empire.

Williams’ last competitive victory came against then world number two Anett Kontaveit in the 2022 US Open second round, before she bowed out with a defeat to Ajla Tomljanovic. The decision to pick up a racquet again had sparked questions about the wisdom of her move, but Williams silenced any doubters with a display that showcased her enduring quality.

Playing for the ones who matter most

Williams has been open about her motivation for returning to the court, her two young daughters, Olympia and Adira. Both were courtside at Queen’s Club alongside husband Alexis Ohanian, witnessing their mother do what she does best, win tennis matches.

But even a triumphant comeback couldn’t eclipse the more pressing concerns of childhood.

“Adira wanted to go to the toy store, and Olympia wanted to know what was for dinner,” Williams said with a laugh.

It’s a reminder that for all the Grand Slam titles, the records and the global adulation, Williams is also a mum navigating the everyday chaos of family life. The fact she’s doing it whilst competing at the highest level of professional tennis? That’s just Serena being Serena.

Mboko living the dream alongside her idol

When Victoria Mboko was born in 2006, Serena Williams had already collected seven Grand Slam singles titles. The 19-year-old Canadian, now ranked ninth in the world in singles, has called Williams her “idol”, and the experience of sharing a court with her childhood hero left her buzzing.

“Of course even knowing I could play with Serena with me, I’m so grateful, first of all,” Mboko said. “I don’t play that much doubles, but I think sharing the court, I think I can learn a lot, even though we’re still competing. I just had so much fun today.”

Mboko witnessed first-hand the quality that made Williams a global phenomenon, and she has no doubt the American will quickly find her rhythm.

“I thought she was doing great. I understand it felt far from her level but it’s great to have that much room for improvement and have the motivation to get better,” Mboko explained. “Overall I thought it was pretty good. There was one shot where I thought ‘oh my gosh she’s got it’.”

What happens next? Wimbledon awaits

Williams and Mboko will face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarter-finals, and the American is also scheduled to compete in doubles at the Berlin Open next week.

But it’s the tantalising possibility of a Wimbledon appearance that has fans on the edge of their seats. Williams won seven singles titles at the All England Club, and whilst she played down the prospect of competing in the singles when she faced the media on Sunday, the doubles remains a live option.

When pressed about Wimbledon on Tuesday, Williams kept her cards close. “Yeah, like I said the other day, it’s just a day at a time,” she said. “I still have a little time to decide, and they (Wimbledon officials) have been great about giving me that space and time to decide.”

One thing’s certain, if Serena Williams does grace Centre Court again, it will be one of the sporting events of the year. For now, she’s taking it match by match, having fun, and proving that class is permanent.

The comeback is real. And it’s only just beginning.