Serena Williams‘ return to professional tennis has taken a major step forward, as the 23-time Grand Slam champion has officially been reinstated as an active player by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, confirming speculation surrounding her comeback.
Her reinstatement excites the tennis world, raising questions about her next move and whether Williams will compete again in high-level tournaments after years away from the tour focusing on family and business ventures.
Ben Rothenberg celebrated the news, dubbing 22 February “Happy Serena Williams Reinstatement Day,” noting the significance of Williams moving off the retired list and becoming eligible for competitive play once again.
In December, the ITIA confirmed to BBC Sport that Williams had rejoined the registered drug-testing pool, requiring daily whereabouts filings and out-of-competition testing, an obligation reserved strictly for active players aiming to compete.
The change came after she had tried to play off speculation of a return during an interview with Today‘s Savannah Guthrie, who is now searching for her missing mother, Nancy.
Now, her status is clear. Serena Williams is no longer listed among retired players on the ITIA website, indicating she has fulfilled the required period of availability for testing, a key prerequisite before returning to tour-level competition.
Ben Rothenberg noted that this update aligns with reports that Williams applied for reinstatement last August after considering the 2025 US Open, a possibility previously blocked due to her prior removal from the testing pool, signaling careful planning on her part.
What could Serena Williams’ comeback look like?
Williams‘ last major appearance came at the 2022 US Open, where she thrilled fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium with wins over Danka Kovinic and Anett Kontaveit before losing a hard-fought three-set match to Ajla Tomljanovic, while also partnering with Venus Williams in doubles.
Her reinstatement opens eligibility for marquee events such as the ATP-WTA 1000 stop at Indian Wells, where Venus Williams has received a wildcard, though she is expected to play doubles with Leylah Fernandez, leaving the question of Serena‘s debut timing and format wide open.
Some analysts speculate Williams could pursue a 24th major to match Margaret Court‘s record, while others expect a doubles partnership with Venus as the immediate goal, though a full singles comeback remains uncertain. Her former coach, Rick Macci, believes her biomechanics and serve remain world-class, pointing to Indian Wells or Miami as realistic venues for her return.
Williams‘ dominance in tennis is nearly unparalleled, with 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 doubles major championships alongside Venus. She combined athleticism, power, and strategic acumen to redefine women’s tennis for over two decades.
Her serve, widely regarded as one of the most effective in the sport’s history, allowed her to win points quickly and control matches, while her aggressive baseline play and mental toughness made her nearly impossible to beat in critical moments.
Her record includes seven Australian Open titles, three French Open victories, seven Wimbledon championships, and six US Open wins, demonstrating her ability to adapt across surfaces from hard courts to grass and clay. Beyond Grand Slam victories, she spent 319 weeks ranked world No. 1 and earned four Olympic gold medals, further cementing her legacy.
In doubles, Serena and Venus combined to win 14 majors and achieve three Olympic golds, raising the tantalizing possibility that the sisters could dominate the sport once again if Serena Williams returns to competitive tennis.
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