Photo credit: Rob Stone/@RobStoneTennis

Halle Open
Halle, Germany
June 15-21, 2026
Prize Money: €2,583,330

Heavy Hitters Firing in Halle
The Halle Terra Wortmann Open, one of seven grass-court events on the calendar, was re-categorized as an ATP 500 tournament in 2015. Reigning Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev is top seed. Felix Auger-Aliassime is seeded second, Stuttgart champion Ben Shelton is the third seed and Daniil Medvedev is seeded fourth. The event has crowned six German winners since its inaugural edition in 1993: Michael Stich (1994), Nicolas Kiefer (1999), David Prinosil (2000), Tommy Haas (2009 & 2012), Philipp Kohlschreiber (2011) and Florian Mayer (2016). Roger Federer won his 10th title in 2019.

Halle Daily Results: Click Here

The post Halle Open Draws and Schedule for Thursday, June 18, 2026 appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Rob Stone/@RobStoneTennis

Halle Open
Halle, Germany
June 15-21, 2026
Prize Money: €2,583,330

Heavy Hitters Firing in Halle
The Halle Terra Wortmann Open, one of seven grass-court events on the calendar, was re-categorized as an ATP 500 tournament in 2015. Reigning Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev is top seed. Felix Auger-Aliassime is seeded second, Stuttgart champion Ben Shelton is the third seed and Daniil Medvedev is seeded fourth. The event has crowned six German winners since its inaugural edition in 1993: Michael Stich (1994), Nicolas Kiefer (1999), David Prinosil (2000), Tommy Haas (2009 & 2012), Philipp Kohlschreiber (2011) and Florian Mayer (2016). Roger Federer won his 10th title in 2019.

Halle Daily Results: Click Here

The post Halle Open Draws and Schedule for Wednesday, June 17, 2026 appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Father Richard Williams famously stood up from his Centre Court seat raising a sign bearing the tagline “Williamsdon.”

This month, Venus Williams and sister Serena Williams will reunite in the Wimbledon ladies’ doubles field.

The Williams sisters, who together own a perfect 14-0 mark in Grand Slam doubles finals, were awarded Wimbledon wild cards into doubles today. Neither 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams nor seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams received a singles wild card.

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The Williams sisters last played Wimbledon in 2016 when they combined to collect the Wimbledon doubles championship. It was their sixth Wimbledon doubles crown coming 16 years after they won their first Wimbledon doubles championship. Venus Williams has posted an 0-7 singles record in 2026.

The 45-year-old Venus, who turns 46 tomorrow, and 44-year-old Serena lead a list of wild cards that includes their good friends Grigor Dimitrov and Stan Wawrinka into Wimbledon men’s singles.

Roland Garros finalist Maja Chwalinska, whom Venus picked to win the French Open after the quarterfinal round on TNT, received a wild card into the ladies’ main draw.

Here’s a look at the Wimbledon wild-card recipients announced today:

The post Venus and Serena Williams Lead List of Wimbledon Wild Cards appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Rob Stone/@RobStoneTennis

Halle Open
Halle, Germany
June 15-21, 2026
Prize Money: €2,583,330

Heavy Hitters Firing in Halle
The Halle Terra Wortmann Open, one of seven grass-court events on the calendar, was re-categorized as an ATP 500 tournament in 2015. Reigning Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev is top seed. Felix Auger-Aliassime is seeded second, Stuttgart champion Ben Shelton is the third seed and Daniil Medvedev is seeded fourth. The event has crowned six German winners since its inaugural edition in 1993: Michael Stich (1994), Nicolas Kiefer (1999), David Prinosil (2000), Tommy Haas (2009 & 2012), Philipp Kohlschreiber (2011) and Florian Mayer (2016). Roger Federer won his 10th title in 2019.

Halle Daily Results: Click Here

The post Halle Open Draws and Schedule for Tuesday, June 16, 2026 appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX

2026 Roland Garros Coverage by Alix Ramsay

Tennis in Paris Ends with Two Maiden Major Champions in Zverev and Andreeva

10sBalls at Roland Garros: Just When You Thought it Couldn’t Get Any Worse

Jannik Sinner Loses to the Heat at Roland Garros

Alix Ramsay’s 2026 Roland Garros Preview is Here

Photo credit: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX

The post Tennis News • In Case You Missed It: Alix Ramsay’s French Open Coverage on 10sBalls.com appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Queen’s Club
London, England
June 15-21, 2026
Grass Courts
Prize Money: €2,583,330

Queen’s Club’s Shining Grass History
The reigning Queen’s Club champion Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Jiri Lehecka in the 2025 final, is out of both London and Wimbledon recovering from a right wrist injury. Aussie Alex de Minaur, the ‘s-Hertogenbosch runner-up on Sunday, is top seed in London. Lehecka is seeded second. The ATP reports: “Five-time Queen’s Club champion Andy Murray, who retired following the Paris Olympics, has been permanently honored by the LTA, which has named its stadium at the Queen’s Club ‘The Andy Murray Arena’. Eight different players have completed the Queen’s Club-Wimbledon title double in the same year, including Murray (2013, 2016), John McEnroe (1981 and 1984), and most recently, Carlos Alcaraz, who won his maiden grass-court title at the Queen’s Club in 2023 before his victory at SW19 a month later. In 2016, Murray became the first player to win five titles at the historic Queen’s Club, separating himself from the elite group of players who have won four Queen’s Club crowns, including McEnroe, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick.

Queen’s Club Daily Results: Click Here

The post Queen’s Club Draws and Schedule for Tuesday, June 16, 2026 appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Libema Open Facebook

Sidelined from the pro circuit for 10 months, Robin Montgomery turned ‘S-Hertogenbosch’s grass into transformative territory today.

World No. 484 Montgomery captured her maiden WTA title without striking a shot as scheduled opponent Barbora Krejcikova withdrew due to an illness.

“I’m sorry to announce that I have to withdraw from today’s Libema Open final due to illness,” Krejcikova said in the statement. “I have been felling unwell and after consulting with the medical team it has become clear that I am not in a condition to compete today. I was really looking forward to the opportunity to play in the final and compete for a title, but today it’s not possible.

“I would also like to congratulate Robin for a great week here and wish her the very best for the rest of the season. I am disappointed to end my tournament in this way, but I will focus on recovering as quickly as possible and look forward to returning to competition soon.”

Qualifier Montgomery, who was sidelined from June of 2025 to April of 2026 due to injury, made the most of her opportunity to become the lowest-ranked player to win a WTA Tour title since No. 508 Elina Svitolina won Strasbourg in 2023.

This title vaults Montgomery to No. 194 in the WTA Live Rankings. Montgomery, who trains at the Junior Tennis Champions’ Center in College Park, Maryland, reached a career-high ranking of No. 95 last June before injury forced her off the Tour.

Contesting just her third tournament of the season, the 21-year-old Montgomery dropped the first set she played in qualifying and lost her first set of main-draw play to Daria Kasatkina before rallying to a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 victory. After that opening-round triumph, Montgomery scored straight-sets wins over Greet Minnen, Daria Snigur and Ajla Tomljanovic before receiving the walkover win from two-time Grand Slam champion Krejcikova.

The post Robin Montgomery Wins Maiden Title at Libema Open appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Boss Open Facebook

Labels can mislead, but Ben Shelton seized a rare title tag today.

In an all-American clash, Shelton dethroned defending champion Taylor Fritz 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 on the Stuttgart grass to capture his third title of the season on his third different surface at the Boss Open.

Branding himself a champion for all surfaces, Shelton has now collected championships on grass, clay (Munich) and the hard court of Dallas becoming the first American man since Sam Querrey in 2010 to win titles on three different surfaces in the same season. Shelton joins world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who has won five titles in 2026, as the second man to claim three or more championships this year.

The second-seeded Fritz, who carried a 5-0 record in grass-court finals into today’s championship match, suffered his first lawn final loss dropping to 10-11 in career Tour-level finals.

Shelton served 70 percent and saved nine of 11 break points. Fritz hit more aces (14 to 9), more winners (40 to 32), won more net points (10 to 7) and earned eight more break points in the final than his left-handed opponent. Ultimately, Shelton’s variety, his skill shifting spins and willingness to go bold on big points helped him prevail over Fritz for the second time in a final this year.

On February 15th, Shelton saved three championship points serving at 4-5 in the decider sparking a gritty 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 comeback conquest of Fritz in the thrilling all-American Nexo Dallas Open final. It was Shelton’s fourth career title and he did it relying on superb serving, fast hands and fearless net play with the match on the line. 

Talk about toughness on turf, Shelton’s sheer refusal to lose helped him rise on the Stuttgart lawn. Shelton denied Fritz’s quest to become the first man to successfully defend Stuttgart since Thomas Muster won back-to-back Stuttgart championships in 1995-1996 back when the tournament was staged on red clay and the Austrian left-hander seemed indestructible on dirt.

The 2025 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Shelton saved three match points along the way to a wild title ride. 

Tiebreak titan Shelton saved two match points in the second-set tiebreaker battling past Jiri Lehecka 6-7(4), 7-6(14), 7-6(6) in an exhilarating Boss Open semifinal yesterday.

It was Shelton’s first career Top 20 victory on grass and marks the second time he’s saved a match point in this tournament. Shelton also saved a match point in edging compatriot Marcos Giron in round two.

The left-hander who had battled from behind the entire tournament, flipped the script building a one-set lead.

On his second break point, Shelton slammed a forehand down the line that hit the baseline and skidded underneath Fritz’s head racquet for the break and a 2-1 lead.

Facing triple break point in the next game, Shelton saved all three break points, including carving a drop shot winner on the third, as he roared back to consolidate for 3-1.

The defending champion threatened serve in the eighth game with a pair of break points. Shelton used a clever lob and soft dropper to save the second then dabbed another drop-shot winner that helped him hold for 5-3 after 35 minutes.

Before a packed Stuttgart crowd that included Hall of Famer Boris Becker and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, Shelton slammed down his first love hold of the set to snatch a one-set lead.

Continuing to press, Fritz finally broke through in the second game of the second set. Shelton attacked and Fritz’s backhand hit the top of the tape and skipped over the top seed’s racquet as Fritz broke for 2-0.

Fritz threw down his third love hold of the final to extend his lead to 3-0.

In full flow, Fritz was crunching his groundstrokes  and targeting the left-hander’s backhand. Handcuffed by a return, Shelton shoveled a drive long to face set point. A clean Fritz drive helped him bang out a second break and force a final set after 70 minutes.

It also empowered Fritz to serve first in the final set.

When Fritz hammered a return right down the middle, it elicited an errant Shelton slice for double break point in the sixth game.

Unleashing the body serve to save the first break point, Shelton drew Fritz forward with a forehand drop shot then knocked a high volley off the second seed’s frame that helped him hold for 3-all.

Firing his 14th ace, Fritz held at 15 for a 4-3 lead.

Though Shelton is one of the game’s most explosive players, he shrewdly spun the soft stuff to entice errors for the key break.

Befuddled by a short Shelton slice, Fritz netted a backhand and slapped his thigh in frustration falling behind 15-30. Shelton slammed a forehand strike down the line for break point at 30-40.

Blasting a return right back at the body, Shelton broke for 5-4 when Fritz mis-hit a forehand, framing his reply high in the sky and flipping his Head racquet aside in disgust.

Attacking net, Shelton slammed a smash for double championship point.

The left-hander detonated a biting body serve, closing his third championship of the season in one hour, 48 minutes embracing Fritz at net.

The post Ben Shelton Dethrones Taylor Fritz for Sixth Career Title in Stuttgart appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Boss Open Facebook

Stuttgart Boss Open
Stuttgart, Germany
June 8-14, 2026
Grass
Prize Money: €757,320

Fritz, Shelton Headline Stuttgart
Top-seeded Ben Shelton and second-seeded defending-champion Taylor Fritz headline a Stuttgart field that includes former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Bublik and Big Foe. Stuttgart, which made the switch from clay to grass from 2015, opens the extended grass-court swing in the week after Roland Garros. The first edition of the tournament was held in 1898. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem and Matteo Berrettini are among leading ATP Tour stars to have triumphed at the Tennisclub Weissenhof.

Stuttgart Boss Open Daily Results: Click Here

The post Stuttgart Boss Open Draws and Schedule for Sunday, June 14, 2026 appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Boss Open Facebook

In tennis’ version of sudden death, Ben Shelton comes alive.

Tiebreak titan Shelton saved two match points in the second-set tiebreaker battling past Jiri Lehecka 6-7(4), 7-6(14), 7-6(6) in an exhilarating Boss Open semifinal.

It is Shelton’s first career Top 20 victory on grass and marks the second time he’s saved a match point in this tournament. Shelton also saved a match point edging compatriot Marcos Giron in round two.

“Sometimes tennis doesn’t go to plan,” Shelton said after improving to 17-7 in tiebreakers. “I lost the first set in every single match I played. That can make things difficult, but there are a lot of ways to win a match.

“I’ve been choosing the most difficult route, but my opponents have played great matches. Shoutout to Jiri. I thought he played an outstanding match today. I thought the level was really high.”

The top-seeded Shelton set up an all-American Stuttgart final vs. reigning champion and buddy Taylor Fritz.

Earlier, Fritz fired 13 aces sweeping Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-4, for his seventh straight Stuttgart win.

The Stuttgart final pits two of America’s most explosive players nearly four months to the day after they faced off in a dramatic Dallas final indoors.

“I’m very tired, but excited to be playing him in another final,” Shelton said. “It’s our second final against each other this year.

“He’s one of the top American guys I’ve always looked up to. Anytime that we get to share the court is a lot of fun.”

On February 15th, Shelton saved three championship points serving at 4-5 in the decider sparking a gritty 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 comeback conquest of Taylor Fritz in the thrilling all-American Nexo Dallas Open final. It was Shelton’s fourth career title and he did it relying on superb serving, fast hands and fearless net play with the match on the line.

The 28-year-old Fritz is the first reigning champion to reach the Stuttgart final since Austrian left-hander Thomas Muster won back-to-back titles in 1995-96.

The second-seeded Fritz is 16-2 on grass since the start of 2025, including titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne.

It is the 21st Tour-level final for Fritz, who carries a 5-0 record in grass-court finals into the title match.

Across the net, Shelton, who has won two of three meetings vs. Fritz, is playing for his sixth career title.

World No. 5 Shelton is aiming for his third title of 2026 on three different surfaces following his title runs in Dallas (indoor hard court) and Munich (outdoor clay). 

 Shelton streaked through 20 consecutive service points to start the match before Lehecka went up Love-30 on the American’s serve in the 11th game. Shelton double faulted to face double break point, but denied both break points with a couple of biting body serves holding for 6-5.

The Czech cracked successive aces to force the tiebreaker.

Shelton, who carried a 16-7 tiebreaker record on the season into this breaker, earned the first mini break to go up 3-1. 

Deadlocked at 4-all, Shelton flicked a poor drop shot that sat up as Lehecka swooped in for a forehand winner down the line. On his first set point, Lehecka closed the 45-minute opener on a Shelton forehand error.

It was Lehecka’s first set win over Shelton.

The Czech cracked a crosscourt forehand winner for match poignant at 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker.

In a wild point that saw both men going nose to nose at net, Shelton knifed a high backhand volley winner for 6-6.

Racing left, Lehecka last a fantastic running backhand strike down the line for a second match point at 9-8.

Reaching back, Shelton smacked a serve winner out wide to save the second match point. Lehecka would save set set points as the tiebreaker escalated into high tension.

On his eighth set point Shelton lasered a lefty forehand forehand down the line ending an electric 16-14 tiebreaker to force a final set.

Facing break point at 30-40 in the fifth game, Shelton slammed his 18th ace to save it, eventually holding for 3-2.

The third set tiebreaker ultimately turned on Shelton’s aggression and the fact the American’s lefty forehand was a bit more stable under pressure than Lehecka’s forehand wing, which betrayed him in the final stages of the break.

Lehecka earned the early mini break for 3-1 and was up 5-4 when Shelton scalded a forehand flash crosscourt for 5-all. Lehecka sailed a forehand.

On his first match point, Shelton caught up to the Czech’s drop shot but could not control his reply. Still, Lehecka gave the American another forehand gift for a second match point at 7-6.

Drilling a forehand return, Shelton closed a tremendous triple tiebreaker battle in two hours, 52 minutes to secure a spot in his eighth career final.

The post Shelton Saves Match Points, Sets up All-American Stuttgart Final vs. Fritz appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Boss Open Facebook

Stuttgart Boss Open
Stuttgart, Germany
June 8-14, 2026
Grass
Prize Money: €757,320

Fritz, Shelton Headline Stuttgart
Top-seeded Ben Shelton and second-seeded defending-champion Taylor Fritz headline a Stuttgart field that includes former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Bublik and Big Foe. Stuttgart, which made the switch from clay to grass from 2015, opens the extended grass-court swing in the week after Roland Garros. The first edition of the tournament was held in 1898. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem and Matteo Berrettini are among leading ATP Tour stars to have triumphed at the Tennisclub Weissenhof.

Stuttgart Boss Open Daily Results: Click Here

The post Stuttgart Boss Open Draws and Schedule for Saturday, June 13, 2026 appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Jon Buckle/ROLEX

Wimbledon goes greener this month.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club announced a record prize money of £64.2 million, which is about $85.6 million for The Championships 2026. 

The £10.7 million increase from 2025 prize money represents “a significant 20% increase, and by far the biggest annual increase in the history of the event,” tournament organizers said in a statement.

The ladies’ and gentlemen’s singles champions will earn £3.6 million, which is about $4.83 million (up 20%) and singles finalists will take home £1.8 million, which is about $2.4 million (up 18%).  

First round singles prize money is set at £80,000 ($106, 726, which is 21% increase), while total prize money on offer at the Qualifying Competition is £6.2 million (25% increase). 

The ladies’, gentlemen’s and mixed doubles events have each received a 10% raise, while the total prize money for wheelchair and quad wheelchair singles and doubles events has risen by 20%. 

“I am delighted to announce a total prize money fund of £64.2 million for The Championships 2026, a very significant increase of 20% from £53.5 million last year,” All England Lawn Tennis Club Chair Deborah Jevans said in a statement. “This announcement recognizes the success of The Championships, and that we operate a sustainable program that allows us not only to increase prize money, but also to invest in facilities, the grass court season and support British and international tennis. 

“We are clear that as Wimbledon grows, the players will continue to share in that success.”

The post Wimbledon Announces Record £64.2 Million Prize Money appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Jon Buckle/ROLEX

Stuttgart Boss Open
Stuttgart, Germany
June 8-14, 2026
Grass
Prize Money: €757,320

Fritz, Shelton Headline Stuttgart
Top-seeded Ben Shelton and second-seeded defending-champion Taylor Fritz headline a Stuttgart field that includes former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Bublik and Big Foe. Stuttgart, which made the switch from clay to grass from 2015, opens the extended grass-court swing in the week after Roland Garros. The first edition of the tournament was held in 1898. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem and Matteo Berrettini are among leading ATP Tour stars to have triumphed at the Tennisclub Weissenhof.

Stuttgart Boss Open Daily Results: Click Here

The post Stuttgart Boss Open Draws and Schedule for Friday, June 12, 2026 appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Rob Stone/@RobStoneTennis

Stuttgart Boss Open
Stuttgart, Germany
June 8-14, 2026
Grass
Prize Money: €757,320

Fritz, Shelton Headline Stuttgart
Top-seeded Ben Shelton and second-seeded defending-champion Taylor Fritz headline a Stuttgart field that includes former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Bublik and Big Foe. Stuttgart, which made the switch from clay to grass from 2015, opens the extended grass-court swing in the week after Roland Garros. The first edition of the tournament was held in 1898. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem and Matteo Berrettini are among leading ATP Tour stars to have triumphed at the Tennisclub Weissenhof.

Stuttgart Boss Open Daily Results: Click Here

The post Stuttgart Boss Open Draws and Schedule for Thursday, June 11, 2026 appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Rob Stone/@RobStoneTennis

Stuttgart Boss Open
Stuttgart, Germany
June 8-14, 2026
Grass
Prize Money: €757,320

Fritz, Shelton Headline Stuttgart
Top-seeded Ben Shelton and second-seeded defending-champion Taylor Fritz headline a Stuttgart field that includes former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Bublik and Big Foe. Stuttgart, which made the switch from clay to grass from 2015, opens the extended grass-court swing in the week after Roland Garros. The first edition of the tournament was held in 1898. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem and Matteo Berrettini are among leading ATP Tour stars to have triumphed at the Tennisclub Weissenhof.

Stuttgart Boss Open Daily Results: Click Here

The post Stuttgart Boss Open Draws and Schedule for Wednesday, June 10, 2026 appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.

Photo credit: Adam Davy/PA Sports/Getty

Serving for the match, Serena Williams reached back for crackling closure.

Slashing successive aces, former world No. 1 Williams brought conviction to her Queen’s Club comeback today.

Shaking off the rust of three-and-a-half years of inactivity, the 44-year-old superstar slammed serves as fast as 120 miles an hour, sprang around the iconic lawn on fresh legs, drilled drive volleys and closed in classic Serena fashion. 

In her first pro match in three years and nine months, the icon was inspired.

Williams and 19-year-old partner Victoria Mboko defeated third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6(2), 6-2 in their Queen’s Club opening match.

Three years, nine months and six days after her loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in her last pro match at the 2022 US Open, Serena returned before a completely packed Andy Murray Arena and, perhaps surprisingly, looked a lot like the Serena Williams we all recall.

“I mean, I think I was nervous, but I didn’t really think about it. I didn’t really think about being nervous,” Williams told the media in London. “I just thought about having fun, which I did today. I just
thought about… that’s it.

“So I didn’t really have time. I got nervous right before the match, like, maybe 30 minutes before, and then I just let it go.”

Shaking off the rust relatively quickly, Serena showed virtually the entire shot spectrum.

Afterward, a laughing Serena looked happy to be back, though she was self-critical of her return game in the on-court interview with Tennis Channel’s Christopher Eubanks.

“Well, we had a lot of fun,” Williams said with a laugh. “But there’s room for improvement.”

A lively and enthusiastic Queen’s Club crowd created an electric atmosphere that felt more like a singles final Sunday than an opening doubles Tuesday.

Clad in a sleeveless white Nike top, pink skirt, pink Nikes and matching pink grip on her black Wilson Blade, Williams was the only player on the court not wearing a visor to combat London’s late afternoon sun.

“There were so many times in the match where we were kind of like: This could be so much better, we could be doing some more,” Mboko said. “It was a little funny, it added a little humor to it, it kind of made me more relaxed. 

“At the end of the day, we just went for it. Both of our game styles, I feel, complement each really well and that really helped us get through today.”

Clad in a sleeveless white Nike top, pink skirt, pink Nikes and matching pink grip on her black Wilson Blade, Williams was the only player on the court not wearing a visor to combat London’s late afternoon sun.

“There were so many times in the match where we were kind of like: This could be so much better, we could be doing some more,” Mboko said. “It was a little funny, it added a little humor to it, it kind of made me more relaxed. 

“At the end of the day, we just went for it. Both of our game styles, I feel, complement each really well and that really helped us get through today.”

Serena Williams looked more relaxed on court than during her peak period of singles, but was still ripping the ball with vigor.

“I think Vicky’s doing great—I think I need to make some returns next match, which I will,” Williams said. “I didn’t miss one in practice, but ooh, yeah, that was a little embarrassing out there. 

“The good news is: I can do better. We both can do better.”  

A few immediate observations:

*Watching Serena launch a 120 mph rocket serving at 5-all, 30-all in the first set—then slash successive aces serving out the match—was a reminder of how the vintage Serena serve, at its best, outshone all competitors like a lightning bolt compared to lightning bugs.

*After a three-and-a-half year layoff, you’d expect Williams’ reaction time and skill reading the play to be dulled if not diminished. Surprisingly, Williams, who netted her first volley, showed some sharp reactions, often anticipated directions of drives and quickly and clearly communicated with the speedy Mboko, one of the fastest women in the game.

*Many of Williams’ miscues were due to faulty footwork. For instance, she failed to move her feet and was flat-footed on contact when she bungled an easy smash from nearly on top of the net with Mboko serving at 7-6, 3-2. She sometimes didn’t bend her knees on low backhands that found the top of the tape—all correctable mistakes.

*Here’s a tennis truth: whether Williams is 44, 64 or 84 years old, if you’re going to leave a ball hanging high when Serena is stalking the net, better wear a catcher’s mask for protection. The Serena swing volley rattled Routliffe’s rib cage at one point and nailed Melichar-Martinez in the hand with another drive volley. Thankfully, no head-hunting…yet.

*Top Draw. Think about it: This was a doubles match on a Tuesday afternoon and the Andy Murray court was packed with fans crammed on the Club’s balcony and into every conceivable space. That created an electric buzz that built to an eruptive crescendo when Mboko and Williams made that traditional walk down the steps, through the crowd onto the historic grass that has hosted the game’s greatest champions from J. Donald Budge to Pancho Gonzalez to Rod Laver to John McEnroe to Boris Becker to Pete Sampras to Novak Djokovic to Murray himself. Every time Serena Williams steps on court it’s a major event for tennis—and a moment where the rest of the sports world turns its eyes to the tennis court. 

The post Serena Williams Makes Winning Tennis Comeback at Queen’s Club appeared first on 10sBalls.com • TennisBalls.com.