coco gauff could still emerge from Serena Williams’ Berlin path, but first Williams has to get through a doubles opening round with Karolina Muchova on Tuesday. The 44-year-old returns to the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Berlin Tennis Open after nearly four years away from tour-level competition, and the draw immediately offers a route to the semifinals.
Williams and Muchova in Berlin
Williams is partnering with Muchova in the doubles draw this week, with Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe waiting in the first round. If Williams and Muchova win their first two matches, they could potentially face Gauff and Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.
That pairing gives Berlin a sharp first-round test and a possible late-stage matchup against the World No. 10 and Pegula, two players who sit on the other side of the bracket path Williams and Muchova need to navigate. The setup is straightforward: two wins first, then the possibility of a meeting with a higher-ranked American duo.
Queen's Club Return
Williams returned to the WTA Tour at the HSBC Championships in London last week and played alongside Victoria Mboko at Queen's Club. They beat Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez before Mboko injured her knee the following day during her singles match, forcing the pair to withdraw.
Williams said after that match, “It was so fun,” and added, “I had so much fun playing with Vickie.” She also said, “I had nothing better do,” and, “I got tired of sitting at home. My kids are out of school for the summer, so why not?”
Williams' Form And Finish
The Queen's Club result gave a clean snapshot of where Williams stands in her return. She won the match with a 113 mph serve down the T that went untouched, then gave herself a C-minus when asked to grade her performance.
For Berlin, the practical read is simple: Williams now has a new doubles partner, a Tuesday opener, and a route that could send her team into a semifinal against Gauff and Pegula if the first two matches go her way. The draw is set, and the next answer comes on court.
