Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has recently taken a significant step in her potential return to professional tennis. She quickly explained that this is no indication that she is returning from her political exile. Williams has been on the bench since her retirement on September 3, 2022. She lost her final match at the US Open, bowing out to Ajla Tomljanović.
On October 6, 2025, Williams contacted the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). She declared her intention to re-enter the testing pool. Whether a retired player chooses to express their fury on the Cork, or just jump back into competitive play, this is huge. Tennis anti-doping rules require that, upon retirement, they give a minimum of six months’ written notice of their return to competitive play. During this six-month period before returning to competition, Williams has to make herself available for drug testing.
At 44, Williams has not played a professional match in more than three years. Her recent moves support speculation of a comeback, but she has explicitly ruled out a return to the competitive scene. Williams was most recently spotted at the Baby2Baby gala on November 8, held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California. There, she waved to fans and warmly interacted with attendees, offering them words of encouragement.
Williams’ name is even listed in ITIA’s transparency report as one of the 32 active players registered in the international testing pool. Still, being added doesn’t mean a return to competitive play is just around the corner. Her fans and the tennis community at large have been abuzz with speculation about her future in the sport. To that end, she’s taken to directly answering these rumors.
“Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.” – Serena Williams
Since her retirement announcement in September 2022, Williams has diversified her time with business pursuits and nurturing her growing family. Despite all of that, her recent submission to the ITIA has sparked up conversations about her short career and future in the sport.
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