New York: Tennis fans were sent into a frenzy this week after Serena Williams was listed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) as eligible to return to competition from February 22, reopening the door—at least technically—to one of the most talked-about comebacks in sports.
The update comes nearly six months after Williams re-registered with the ITIA’s drug-testing program and was officially placed on the agency’s reinstatement page as of Monday.
While there is no confirmation of an actual comeback plan, the move fulfills a key requirement for any player seeking to return to professional tennis after stepping away.
In short: the pathway is now open, should Serena choose to walk it.
That nuance matters. When news first broke last year that Williams had re-entered the testing pool, speculation ran wild. Williams herself quickly tried to cool the chatter, responding on social media with characteristic humor and clarity: “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Still, eligibility has a way of keeping hope alive.
Williams has not competed since the 2022 US Open, where she made an emotional farewell run before stepping away from the sport. At the time, she avoided calling it a retirement, instead describing her decision as “evolving away from tennis” to focus on family and her growing business ventures.
Under ITIA rules, athletes returning from retirement must be available for six months of drug testing before becoming eligible to compete. That process includes providing detailed whereabouts information and being available for testing at any time—requirements Williams has now satisfied.
Whether that’s preparation for a surprise return or simply keeping options open remains unclear.
Serena’s elder sister Venus Williams returned to competitive tennis last July at age 45, ending an 18-month absence from the tour. Speaking during her comeback, Venus said she hoped Serena would one day join her again on the professional circuit
What is clear is Serena Williams’ place in sporting history. Her résumé reads like mythology: 73 career titles, 23 Grand Slam singles championships, four Olympic gold medals, and a staggering career singles record of 858–156.
Few athletes—across any sport—have ever dominated the way she did.
So, is Serena Williams really coming back?
For now, the answer remains the same as her legacy: powerful, ambiguous, and impossible to ignore.
Source: Yahoo Sports
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