Serena Williams on Tuesday firmly denied rumors that she will return to professional tennis, after her name appeared again on a reinstatement-eligible drug-testing list. The 23-time Grand Slam champion said the speculation was overblown — and she has no plans to make a comeback.
Re-entry Sparks Speculation
Reports surfaced earlier Tuesday that Williams had reentered the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) registered testing pool — a required step for any athlete seeking to return to competition.
That news quickly triggered widespread talk among fans and media outlets. Some viewed it as a sign that Williams might be preparing a return as early as 2026, once athletes in the pool satisfy the six-month whereabouts requirement for anti-doping testing.
Just hours after the initial reports, Williams took to social media to shut down the rumors. “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy,” she wrote.
Her message was definitive and blunt, offering little room for reinterpretation. She did not elaborate on why she rejoined the testing pool.
Williams last competed in 2022 at the US Open, where she bowed out in the third round. At the time, she described her departure as an “evolution” away from the sport — rather than a traditional retirement.
Even without a return, her legacy remains untouched. The tennis world continues to regard her as one of the greatest of all time. Her decision to remain retired, for now, underscores a shift in priorities toward personal endeavors, her family, and business ventures beyond the court.