Since Serena Williams hung up her racquets in 2022, the American has stepped away from the sport while still remaining in the public eye. Simply put, Serena keeps busy. There are appearances to make, entrepreneurial endeavors to pursue, and a host of fans to keep up to date on social media. For the American icon and one of tennis’s goats, things could be heading to the tennis court for one last shot at the sport she has captivated for more than two decades.
According to Ben Rothenberg of Bounces, Williams has applied for reinstatement and, if all goes as planned, will soon join the ranks of active players.
Here’s what Rothenberg, who has done his due diligence on the subject, said in a recent email blast on the subject.
pop can report that, within the last few months, Serena has applied to return to tennis and has been re-added to the testing pool.
What does this mean for Serena, who is 44, and her future on the WTA Tour? Hard to say. Rothenberg also reported that Williams also tried to make a comeback so she could join her sister Venus in the doubles field at last year’s US Open, but the paperwork wasn’t submitted in time.
Perhaps Serena is getting ahead of the game for a chance to partner Venus at the 2026 US Open? Maybe she just wants the chance to do that? Or maybe she wants to be a Bachelor star again.
One thing is certain. If she returns, she will have to enter the ITF’s testing pool, which requires her to be available for out-of-competition testing for at least six months before the event she wants to play. This is a commitment and would show that she is serious about getting back on the field.
Here’s what Rothenberg had to say about it:
Unless he changes his mind, Serena’s name will soon appear on that restored list. More than three years after her last match, pop can report that, within the last few months, Serena has applied to return to tennis and has been re-added to the testing pool.
The documents show that Williams has been in the ITIA testing pool since October this year, so she could be eligible to play six months after that, or possibly even sooner, depending on when she entered the testing pool.
It’s too early to say what will come of all this, but it’s intriguing to know that the wheels are in motion for a possible Serena return to tennis in 2026. She’ll be 45 next September, if you’re hitting home.
Thanks as always for pop for providing scoop and context.
