Serena Williams is set to face a challenging return to tennis. In the opening round of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, she and partner Victoria Mboko will play against the No. 3 seeds, Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe. This matchup marks a significant moment for Williams, who is eager to showcase her skills after a lengthy break.
Matchup Overview
Erin Routliffe, a former doubles World No. 1, has an impressive resume, including two Grand Slam doubles titles. Notably, she reached the Wimbledon final in 2024 with Gabriela Dabrowski. Nicole Melichar-Martinez has also made her mark, winning 19 WTA doubles titles and capturing the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 2018.
Team Context
- This is the first tournament together for Melichar-Martinez and Routliffe.
- Melichar-Martinez previously partnered with Cristina Bucsa before Bucsa’s injury.
- Routliffe has played with various partners, including Asia Muhammad and Jelena Ostapenko, throughout 2026.
Strong Singles Field
The WTA 500 event features a robust lineup in the singles competition. Top seed Elena Rybakina leads the field. Other notable participants include:
- Amanda Anisimova, the 2025 Wimbledon finalist
- Victoria Mboko, a rising star
- Belinda Bencic, a former Olympic champion
Projected Quarterfinal Matches
Anticipated matchups in the quarterfinals include:
| Top Half | Bottom Half |
|---|---|
| (1) Rybakina vs. (8) Leylah Fernandez | (4) Bencic vs. (7) Sorana Cirstea |
| (3) Mboko vs. (5) Marta Kostyuk | (2) Anisimova vs. (6) Iva Jovic |
First-Round Matches to Watch
Several first-round matches are generating buzz:
- Marta Kostyuk vs. (WC) Mika Stojsavljevic: Kostyuk, fresh off a semifinals appearance at Roland Garros, faces rising junior Stojsavljevic.
- Karolina Pliskova vs. McCartney Kessler: The former World No. 1 continues her comeback, with the winner advancing to face Mboko.
- Fernandez vs. (WC) Katie Boulter: Former US Open finalist Fernandez takes on local favorite Boulter.
The HSBC Championships will kick off on June 8 and continue through June 14, promising exciting matches and compelling storylines.
