Serena Williams returns: Tennis great and partner Ons Jabeur find out their Eastbourne doubles opponents

Serena Williams and Ons Jabeur will face Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo in their opening encounter at the Eastbourne International women’s doubles.

Following nearly a full year on the sidelines, 23-time Grand Slam winner will make her return to competitive action in Eastbourne this week after accepting a wildcard in the doubles alongside Tunisian star Jabeur.

The American will use the event as a warm-up for Wimbledon, where she will also feature in main draw after also being awarded a wildcard by the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

The news is OUT @serenawilliams x @Ons_Jabeur are ready to pair up in Eastbourne! pic.twitter.com/7goekAfqFg

— wta (@WTA) June 14, 2022

Williams and Jabeur find themselves in the bottom half of the draw and could face fourth seeds Lucy Hradecka and Sania Mirza in the second round while second seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Giuliana Olmos are potential semi-final opponents.

Top seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Ena Shibahara headline the draw with Krejcikova playing in only her second tournament since February after several months on the sidelines due to an elbow injury.

The duo face Alexa Guarachi and Andreja Klepac first up while they could meet third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Zhang Shuai in the last four.

British duo Heather Watson and Harriet are also in the top half of the draw and face American pair Desirae Krawczyk and Shelby Rodgers in the first round.

Main draws in singles and doubles in Eastbourne.

Paula Badosa, Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari, and Karolina Pliskova top the singles draw.

Serena Williams and Ons Jabeur will open their doubles campaign against Bouzkova/Sorribes Tormo. pic.twitter.com/daNHqBcNtY

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) June 18, 2022

In the singles draw, top seed