Serena Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam titles, has sparked rumors about a return to tennis by reentering the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) testing pool. However, she quickly denied any plans to come back. Even though her name was on the list—required for retired players who want to compete—she posted on X: speculation about her return to professional tennis. This move makes her have to report her whereabouts and take random tests, which is required for any match after she lost to Ajla Tomljanović in the 2022 US Open.
Williams and other retired players must stay in the ITIA pool for six months before they can compete. This could change the timeline for her eligibility for events in mid-2026, like US Open doubles. Adrian Bassett, a spokesperson for ITIA, said that she was reinstated but that this might just keep options open and not mean that plans are in place right away. Venus, her sister, is 45 and has never officially retired. She came back recently without any problems and won matches this summer.
Williams first tried to get back into the pool in August 2025, before the US Open, maybe to play doubles with Venus, but the rules stopped it. She is now officially retired but still able to be tested. She has to deal with daily location disclosures while fans go crazy. Her team, the WTA, and the ITIA haven’t responded to her yet, which has led to more debate about whether this teases singles, doubles, or just flexibility.
