London, June 10 -- Tennis legend Serena Williams made a high-profile return to competitive action at Queen's Club on Tuesday, marking her comeback nearly four years after her last professional appearance.

The 44-year-old American, who recently accepted a wildcard entry to partner Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in the grasscourt WTA event, drew significant attention with her return to a London court.

Williams showed little sign of rust as she combined power and experience with Mboko to defeat the third-seeded pair of Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6(2), 6-2.

The former world number one impressed with her trademark aggression and competitive intensity, delivering a strong performance that highlighted her enduring presenc...