New York – Serena williams has clarified she is not planning an immediate return to professional tennis, despite recently re-entering the US Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) testing pool. The move sparked speculation about a potential comeback for the 23-time Grand slam champion, but Williams has indicated her re-entry is simply a procedural step.
Williams initially stepped away from the sport in 2022, describing it as “evolving away” rather than a traditional retirement. Her final US Open saw victories in her first two singles matches, with Bill Clinton, Billie Jean King, Tiger Woods, and Mike Tyson among those witnessing her final run, before a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic after saving five match points.
To be eligible to compete professionally again, all retired players must be available for out-of-competition drug testing for a six-month period. While the exact date Williams requested to be re-added to the testing pool is unknown, a return to competition would be possible as early as April, assuming a six-month waiting period from October 6th.
In August, Williams discussed her experiences with weight loss on the Today Show, revealing that despite a rigorous training regimen – “training five hours a day” including “running, walking, biking, stair climbing” – she “struggled to lose weight” and “had to try something different.”
throughout her illustrious career, Williams amassed 23 Grand Slam singles titles, second only to Margaret court (24) and Novak Djokovic (24). Her record includes seven Australian Open titles, three French Open titles, seven Wimbledon titles, and six US Open titles – the most major singles titles won by any woman during the Open era.
The possibility of a Williams sisters reunion has also been fueled by the recent return of Serena’s older sister, Venus. Venus Williams, a seven-time major singles champion, came back to the tour after a 16-month absence earlier this year and competed in both singles and doubles at the US open at age 45, reaching the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles with Leylah Fernandez.
Serena and Venus Williams have a decorated doubles partnership, having won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals together. A potential return for both sisters in 2026 remains a compelling prospect for tennis fans.
