Serena Williams firmly denied speculation of a tennis comeback on Tuesday, posting on social media, “I am NOT coming back.”
The 44-year-old tennis legend’s statement followed reports that the 23-time Grand Slam champion had registered with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the sport’s drug-testing body. Registration with the ITIA is a mandatory initial step for any player intending to come out of retirement.
Reports of a potential comeback recently sparked a “wildfire” of speculation, but Williams quickly clarified her intentions, later posting: “Omg y’all I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.” It remains unclear if, when, or where Williams might compete again.
U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre confirmed in an emailed statement to The Associated Press that “We are aware that Serena has filed the necessary paperwork with the International Tennis Integrity Agency to reenter the International Registered Testing Pool. If Serena decides to return and compete at the professional level, together with her fans, we will enthusiastically welcome the return of one of the greatest champions in the history of our sport.”
As one of the biggest stars in any sport, Williams was a dominant talent on the court who continues to attract attention even off it. Her potential return to the tour would undoubtedly be a major storyline.
Serena Williams has re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) testing pool, indicating a potential return to the sport. This agency manages anti-doping and anti-corruption measures.
An ITIA spokesperson, Adrian Bassett, confirmed this development on Tuesday to the Associated Press (AP), stating, “She is on the list and back in the testing pool.”
The news of her inclusion in the testing pool was initially reported by Bounces.
Athletes who return to competition after retiring from the testing pool must be available for anti-doping testing for a period of six months before they are permitted to compete again.
When not participating in official events, these athletes must provide accurate whereabouts information, detailing their location and the times when they are accessible for sample collection.
Williams hasn’t played professionally since her “farewell” at the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, she avoided the word “retiring,” preferring to describe her departure from tennis as an “evolving” away from the sport.
“I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me,” Williams wrote at the time, according to the New York Post. “A few years ago I quietly started Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm. Soon after that, I started a family. I want to grow that family.”
Williams, who is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has two daughters: Olympia, born in 2017, and Adira, born in 2023.
