Serena Williams has reportedly taken a significant step toward what would be one of the most remarkable comebacks in modern sport, after being officially approved by tennis’ drug-testing authority to return to competition later this month.
The development has reignited global debate about whether the 23-time Grand Slam champion is truly preparing to resume her legendary career at the age of 44.
Williams, who last competed professionally at the 2022 US Open, stunned the tennis world last August when it emerged that she had registered with the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
By entering the testing pool, Williams immediately became subject to the same whereabouts requirements as active players, a move that strongly suggested she was at least keeping the door open to a comeback.
At the time, however, Williams appeared to shut down speculation.
Responding on social media after her registration became public, she wrote: “Omg y’all I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Despite that firm denial, her name quietly remained in the system, and six months later, the tennis icon appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency‘s reinstatement page, as first reported by Bounces.
When could Serena Williams play again?
According to the listing, Williams is eligible to return to competition from February 22, 2026, a date that falls seven months before her 45th birthday.
While eligibility does not guarantee intent, the procedural hurdle is a major one. Any athlete seeking reinstatement must provide detailed information about their whereabouts, including their location when not at tournaments and specific time windows when they are available for drug testing.
The timing of the update has only added fuel to the speculation. Just 24 hours earlier, Williams had sparked controversy by appearing in a high-profile Super Bowl commercial for the GLP-1 weight-loss provider Ro.
The ad aired during the game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, and showed Williams openly discussing her post-retirement body transformation.
In the commercial, Williams credited pharmaceutical company Ro for helping her lose weight after stepping away from tennis.
She was even seen injecting the medication in one spot, while another ad showed her placing an order through Ro’s mobile app and revealing that the company is preparing to release a pill-based version of the drug.
Williams also explained that the treatment had benefits beyond weight loss, saying it helped reduce knee joint stress, stabilize her blood sugar levels, and lower her cholesterol.
Fan backlash over weight-loss drug promotion
While some fans criticized the tennis legend for promoting weight-loss medication, others speculated that improved physical comfort could be directly connected to thoughts of returning to elite competition.
When Williams said goodbye at the 2022 US Open, she notably avoided the word “retirement,” instead describing the moment as an “evolution” away from tennis.
That phrasing has lingered ever since, especially given her unmatched competitive drive and history of defying expectations.
Whether Williams ultimately steps back onto the court remains uncertain.
But with clearance from the International Tennis Integrity Agency and a confirmed eligible return date, the possibility of seeing Williams competing again in 2026 no longer feels far-fetched.
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