Tennis icon Serena Williams has reignited rumors of a return to the professional tour, telling the Today Show on Wednesday that a comeback is “not a maybe.”
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who retired after the 2022 US Open, has officially re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) drug testing pool.
Under current rules, players must be in the pool for six months before competing, making the 44-year-old eligible for a return as early as this spring.
While Williams was playfully evasive during her interview—at one point claiming she recently listed her occupation as “housewife”—she notably declined to deny the mounting speculation.
Williams’ name appeared on the ITIA testing list in October and December. Experts suggest the chance to play doubles one last time with her sister, Venus (45), may be a primary motivator.
Having been in the testing pool since October, a competitive return in 2026 is procedurally possible.
Whether Williams is chasing a record-equaling 24th Major or a final farewell with her sister, the door to the court is clearly no longer locked.
