Serena Williams has spent the past week at the center of one of tennis’ biggest storylines, and she didn’t have to so much as pick up a racquet.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion’s unexpected re-entry into the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) testing pool ignited widespread speculation that she might be plotting an extraordinary comeback in 2026.
But while fans dissected every detail, Venus Williams cut through the noise with a blunt assessment of her sister’s likelihood of returning to competition.
Speaking ahead of her exhibition appearance at the Charlotte Invitational, Venus was asked whether she could envision teaming up with Serena again in doubles. The seven-time major champion didn’t hesitate.
“All I know is I can’t get Serena Williams on the court. She doesn’t practice,” Venus said with a laugh. “So it seems very unlikely to me.”
Her comment echoed the message Serena had posted a day earlier, when she tried to extinguish the speculation with a sharp response on social media: “Omg y’all I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Still, the interest hasn’t cooled, a sign of how powerful the idea of Serena Williams returning to the sport remains, even more than two years after her emotional farewell at the 2022 US Open.
Why Serena’s testing-pool filing created a frenzy
The spark behind this latest wave of speculation was Serena‘s appearance on the ITIA out-of-competition testing list.
Under anti-doping rules, retired players must be available for testing for at least six months before they can rejoin the WTA Tour, making the filing a necessary procedural step for any would-be return.
An ITIA spokesperson confirmed that Serena herself submitted the reinstatement paperwork. But the filing alone doesn’t guarantee a comeback, something Serena was quick to emphasize.
Even so, fans have seized on the possibility, especially with younger talent reshaping the sport and the Paris Olympics looming. For many, the idea of Serena stepping back into the arena, even for one more event, remains irresistible.
Venus, however, wasn’t buying it. And her perspective carries weight. The 45-year-old spent more than a year sidelined before returning to competition last summer, giving her firsthand insight into how much preparation a comeback requires.
Meanwhile, Serena‘s own reflections in a recent interview with Porter magazine revealed how complicated life after retirement can be.
“No matter how prepared you are to retire… it’s hard,” she said. “I really prepped myself the best way I could, but it’s still a little difficult.”
A bond shaped by dominance
Serena and Venus Williams built one of the most remarkable partnerships in sports history, winning 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals together.
Their influence transformed the sport, inspired a generation and redefined what was possible for black athletes in tennis.
That legacy is part of why any whisper of a reunion generates such excitement. Venus herself has admitted she’d love to see Serena back, telling reporters earlier this year, “I’m her biggest fan. I never wanted her to retire.”
But this week, she also made it clear that wishful thinking won’t override reality.
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