Serena Williams set the tennis world alight when fans saw her name on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s Registered Testing Pool, more than three years after ending her career at the US Open. The list was published on October 6, but only caught attention last week, and it sparked rumours of a sensational comeback.
In order for a retired player to return to the professional circuit, they must sign up to make themselves available for out-of-competition testing at least six months prior to making a comeback. Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki did the same when she left retirement in 2023. But Williams herself shut the rumours down with a single social media post “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy-” she wrote.
Still, it’s a lot of trouble for an athlete to go to if they aren’t planning a return. The 23-time Grand Slam champion must give a one-hour window of availability every day for out-of-competition anti-doping tests. Whether Williams really does have one eye on a comeback and is just trying to tame excitement remains to be seen. Her coach of 10 years, Patrick Mouratoglou, told Express Sport that the former world No.1 could just be keeping her options open – but that Williams wouldn’t return unless she thought she could compete with the best.
“Maybe this is something that crossed her mind because she’s in super shape, as everybody saw,” the French tennis coach said. “She looks like she’s back to being a top athlete after being a mother. So maybe it crossed her mind, and maybe she opened that opportunity. But to open an opportunity and to do it, there is, I think, a long way to go, so I guess we’ll know in a few months if happening.”
Should Williams return to competition, fans are eager to know whether it will be alongside her sister, Venus, in doubles, or a fully-fledged comeback in singles.
It’s “difficult” for Mouratoglou to see whether the four-time Olympic gold medalist could still compete with the very best, but he explained: “I think when Serena wants something and when she puts her heart in it, there are not much things that are impossible. So I guess, if she thinks about her comeback, she will only [do it] if she thinks she can compete with the best; otherwise, she will not. That’s not her mindset. That’s never been her mindset.”
Doubles with 45-year-old Venus, who is still completing on the main tour and has signed up to next month’s ASB Classic in Auckland, could be a reasonable option. “I guess she hasn’t played official matches for a long time, so that would be a smooth way to come back, to start with doubles. But again, I don’t know her plans,” Williams’ former coach said.
Venus herself made a return to competition earlier this summer. The seven-time Major winner won her opening matches in both singles and doubles at the WTA 500 in Washington following a 16-month hiatus. She then pushed No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova in the first round of US Open singles, and reached the doubles quarter-finals with Leylah Fernandez, while Williams watched from home and cheered them on. But Mouratoglou wasn’t surprised by her successful return.
“It’s impressive, but you know, Serena and Venus are incredible athletes, I think they’re above most of the players so, for them to do it, it is more possible than for many others,” the creator of UTS said. “And also, they have this incredible competitive mindset that made them who they are, multiple Grand Slam champions, and Serena even in a different league. But they both have the competitiveness, the ability to know how to win matches, and for their age, they are still in great shape because, first, they’re still exercising, and second, they’re incredible athletes.”
While the younger Williams sister insists that she won’t be getting back on the professional circuit, Venus will be in action in just four weeks’ time at the WTA 250 event Auckland – her first tournament outside of the United States since August 2023.