Serena Williams
Tennis legend Serena Williams has refused to definitively rule out a return to professional tennis, despite previously insisting she had no plans to come back to the sport.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, stepped away from competitive tennis following the 2022 US Open.
However, speculation about a potential comeback resurfaced in December after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed to BBC Sport that the 44-year-old had been registered again in the drug testing pool.
At the time, the American dismissed suggestions of a return, stating she was “not coming back.” But speaking on the Today Show on Wednesday, Williams adopted a more open-ended stance.
“I don’t know, I’m just going to see what happens,” she said when asked about a possible comeback.
Pressed further by host Savannah Guthrie, who described her response as “a maybe,” the seven-time Wimbledon champion replied: “It’s not a maybe,” without offering further clarity.
Williams, who is a mother of two, also revealed that she recently listed her occupation as a stay-at-home mum and housewife on an official form. When questioned about her reported re-entry into the drug testing pool, she declined to give details.
“I don’t know if I was out. Listen, I can’t discuss this,” she said. “If I want to put it [rumours] to bed… listen, I want to go to bed.”
Under anti-doping regulations, players must spend at least six months in the testing pool before becoming eligible to return to competition. Williams’ name appeared on an ITIA document dated October 6, listing athletes subject to testing requirements.
While no official comeback has been confirmed, Williams’ comments are likely to fuel ongoing debate about whether one of tennis’ greatest players could yet make another return to the court.