Serena Williams’ comeback hit an early snag at the Berlin Open on Tuesday as she and partner Karolina Muchova were beaten in their opening-round doubles match at the WTA 500 grass-court tournament.
Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe defeated Williams and Muchova 6-4, 6-4 to end Williams’ involvement in Berlin at the first stage, just as her return to competition continues to build toward Wimbledon.
The match marked Williams’ second appearance since returning to the court, following a win at Queen’s Club in London last week. That Queen’s Club outing was her first professional match since the 2022 U.S. Open, though her participation there was cut short when her partner Victoria Mboko injured her knee in a singles match.
How the Berlin Open doubles match unfolded
Williams, 44, was greeted with a huge roar and applause as she walked onto center court at the Steffi Graf Stadion. The crowd quickly filled up as fans who had been outside snacking and drinking moved in when it became clear the main attraction was about to start.
Despite the straight-sets result, the reception for Williams remained warm throughout, with fans calling out messages of support. One fan shouted “Welcome back Serena!” as Williams produced “flashes of her tenacity,” including some ferocious returns. Another voice rang out during the second set: “Serena, we love you in Berlin!” drawing cheers from those in attendance.
On the scoreboard, Olmos and Routliffe took both sets by the same 6-4 margin. The decisive moment in the second set came when Olmos and Routliffe broke Muchova’s serve to move ahead 3-2. From there, Routliffe helped set up match point with an ace, and the pair closed out the contest to complete the opening-round win.
The loss means Williams’ Berlin Open run ends immediately, but it does not change the larger context of her return: she is using grass-court events to sharpen up ahead of Wimbledon, which starts in less than two weeks.
Berlin crowd shows appreciation despite the defeat
Even as Olmos and Routliffe controlled key moments, the atmosphere remained focused on Williams’ presence and what it represents. The report noted that the love shown to Williams from appreciative fans was not dimmed by the defeat, underlining the significance of her comeback appearances on the grass-court swing.
Williams has been away from professional tennis since the 2022 U.S. Open, when she said she was “evolving” away from the sport rather than “retiring.” Her return to match play has drawn attention not only because of her legacy, but also because of what is coming next on the calendar.
Wimbledon wild card adds context to Williams’ return
Earlier Tuesday, Wimbledon organizers announced that Williams and her older sister Venus were being given a doubles wild card invitation for the tournament. Venus turns 46 on Wednesday, and the announcement adds another layer of anticipation to Serena’s grass-court return.
Williams’ record at the sport’s biggest events remains central to why her comeback matters. She won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, including seven at Wimbledon, before stepping away from the game. In doubles, she has won 14 Grand Slam titles, including six at Wimbledon, all alongside Venus.
With the Berlin Open doubles run over after one match, attention now shifts to what comes next for Williams as she continues to prepare for Wimbledon, where she is set to return in doubles with her sister following the wild card invitation.