Imagine a bright studio, cameras rolling, and one of the greatest tennis icons in history sitting casually, a subtle smile hiding decades of championship fire. That was Serena Williams on the Today show on January 28 – but is she coming back?
Serena was last seen on the court at the 2022 US Open and has been “evolving away” from tennis since then, embracing life as a mother of two.
But in December 2025, she re-entered the drug-testing pool, sparking speculation about a possible return. Yet during the live interview, that buzz turned into an awkward dance.
Savannah Guthrie: “Recently, tell me if I have this right, you re-entered the drug testing pool, which some see as the precursor to a return to tennis. So you know I have to ask, are you returning to professional tennis?”
Serena Williams [laughs]: “I mean, really? Are you asking this on the Today show? Oh my gosh…”
SG: “Is that a no?”
SW: “‘Is that a no?'” [Man laughs off-camera]
SW: “All the people on your set that are laughing. This is distracting. You’re distracting us over there. I’m just having fun and enjoying my life right now.”
SG: “That’s a ‘maybe’ to me!”
SW: “That’s not a maybe.”
Williams then spoke about her personal life. She shares two daughters, the eight-year-old Olympia and two-year-old Adira with her husband Alexis Ohanian. She said she is a “full-time, stay-at-home” mom and recently listed her occupation as “housewife” and despite the speculation after re-entering the drug testing pool, Williams later denied the chatter online.
Fans are left in suspense, watching a champion perfectly straddling life and legacy, blending humor with evasiveness, keeping her options wide open.
Previously, amid rumours back in December,Serena took to X.com, formerly Twitter, to write, “Omg y’all I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Where could Serena Williams return? WTA Schedule and Major events in 2026
After the Australian Open, the WTA Tour hits its post-Grand Slam rhythm, spanning continents with WTA 500 and 1000 tournaments, before rolling into the North American hard-court swing.
The season spans Middle East, North America, Europe, and Asia, with clay and grass phases giving players time to adapt. If Williams decides to return, early hard-court events or the North American swing are most likely.
Key tournaments (Feb-Nov 2026)
Fans can watch for Indian Wells, Miami, and other WTA 1000 events to gauge potential participation. Key scenarios include testing the waters at a major tournament or jumping straight into a Slam.
Regardless, the 2026 WTA Tour promises intense matches, emerging rivalries, and strategic decisions shaping the year ahead.
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