Serena Williams filled out official forms that would allow her to return to professional tennis but she quickly shut down any rumours by saying she is not coming back.
Serena, now 44, retired after the 2022 US Open with 23 Grand Slam singles titles. However, her name recently showed up on the list of players who can be randomly drug-tested, which usually means a player is preparing for a comeback.
After people noticed this, Serena posted on social media saying: “I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.” It’s unclear why she put herself back on the testing list if she doesn’t plan to play again, especially since it means drug testers can show up at any time.
Serena has always avoided the word “retirement,” saying she was “evolving away” from tennis in 2022. Her final appearance at the US Open was memorable, drawing stars like Bill Clinton, Billie Jean King, Tiger Woods, and Mike Tyson. She fought hard in her last match, saving five match points before losing in the third round.
Rules say any retired player must be available for drug testing for six months before they can officially compete again. If Serena entered the list in early October, the earliest she could return would be April but she insists she won’t.
Serena is one of the most successful tennis players ever, with only Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic owning more major singles titles.
Her sister Venus, now 45, returned to tennis earlier this year after more than a year away and even made the quarter-finals in doubles at the US Open. The idea of the Williams sisters teaming up again in 2026 would excite many fans but for now, Serena says she’s staying retired.
