Serena Williams may be inching closer to one of the most dramatic comebacks in tennis history.
Although officially listed as retired since 2022, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has reappeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s International Registered Testing Pool (IRTP), a list reserved for players who could potentially return to competition.
Under ITIA guidelines, athletes must undergo six months of testing before they can enter sanctioned events-fueling speculation that Williams may be preparing for a comeback as early as 2026 or 2027.
Her re-entry into the testing pool is one of the strongest indicators yet that the door to her career may not be fully closed. Despite stepping back from the sport, Williams has consistently hinted that she never viewed her departure as final.
Her presence on the IRTP list, combined with her previous comments, suggests she has kept the possibility of returning very much alive.
Is Serena Williams coming back to tennis?
This isn’t the first time Williams has teased the idea of reclaiming her place on the WTA Tour.
At a TechCrunch Disrupt event in San Francisco in 2022, she openly rejected the idea that she was truly retired.
There, she explained that she still trains on her home court and had recently experienced what it felt like to hit balls without preparing for a tournament-a feeling she described as both “strange” and “freeing”.
In the years since stepping away, the 44-year-old has focused on family, entrepreneurship, and personal wellness.
Williams has also devoted significant effort to rebuilding her fitness, shedding nearly 17 kilograms this year-another detail adding fuel to the comeback rumors.
Her potential return has not gone unnoticed within the tennis world. Novak Djokovic, still playing at an elite level on the ATP Tour at age 38, recently offered a playful but sincere invitation for Williams to rejoin the circuit.
After his first-round win at the US Open, Djokovic, knowing her competitive nature rarely turns down a dare, challenged her to make a comeback.
His comments came after he watched Williams introduce longtime rival Maria Sharapova at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, a moment he described as both gracious and memorable.
One Williams remains in tennis
Meanwhile, the Williams legacy continues on tour through her sister.
Venus Williams remains active on the WTA circuit and reached the quarterfinals of the US Open doubles draw this year alongside Leylah Fernandez.
For now, Serena has offered no formal statement about her future. She has been spotted attending major matches throughout the season, keeping her connection to the sport alive.
Whether her name on the IRTP is a procedural formality or a hint of something bigger remains to be seen, but fans have more reason than ever to hope that one of the game’s greatest champions could step onto the court again.
Read the full article here
