Serena Williams didn't need much time to remind fans what she's capable of.

Playing her first competitive match since the 2022 U.S. Open, Williams returned to the court Tuesday at Queen's Club in London and walked away with a win. Teaming up with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, the pair defeated Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6, 6-2 in the opening round of the HSBC Championships women's doubles tournament.

For Williams, the match marked her first competitive appearance in nearly four years. It also marked a successful start to a return that had generated plenty of attention heading into the tournament.

The sold-out crowd at Queen's Club got an early glimpse of the Serena many tennis fans remember. Williams and Mboko came out strong, building an early lead in the opening set before being pushed into a tiebreak. After surviving that challenge, they took control of the second set and never looked back.

Williams still showed the power that made her one of the most dominant players in tennis history. Her serve remained a weapon throughout the match, and she closed the contest with two aces, including the match-winning point.

Despite her long absence from professional competition, Williams said afterward that she tried to keep her focus on enjoying the moment.

The 44-year-old admitted she felt nervous before stepping onto the court, something she said tends to happen shortly before matches. Once play began, however, she appeared comfortable and confident alongside Mboko, who is considered one of Canada's rising young players.

The moment also became a family affair. Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, and daughters Olympia and Adira watched from the stands as she made her return to competition.

While questions remain about how much tennis Williams plans to play moving forward, she has made it clear that she is approaching things one step at a time. She is scheduled to compete again Thursday in the quarterfinals and is also expected to play next week at the Berlin Tennis Open.

For now, Williams appears focused on enjoying her time back on the court.

And after nearly four years away from competition, her return began with something that became familiar throughout her career — a victory.