Serena Williams Denies Tennis Comeback Despite Drug-Testing Registration

Tennis Icon Addresses Return Speculation

Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion, has firmly dismissed speculation about a potential return to professional tennis, despite taking a crucial step that would be necessary for any comeback. The 44-year-old re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s doping test pool, sparking widespread excitement across the tennis world about a possible return to competition.

However, Williams quickly addressed the rumours on social media. “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy,” the former 23-time Grand Slam champion wrote on X, putting an end to speculation that had been building since her name appeared on the testing registry in October 2025.

The Significance of Testing Pool Registration

Williams officially re-entered the ITAI’s anti-doping program, which is a mandatory step for any retired player considering a comeback. Retired players must give at least six months’ written notice of their intent to return to tournament play and make themselves available for testing for six months before returning to competition, according to tennis anti-doping rules. This would have positioned Williams for a potential return in spring 2026.

Williams has not played since a third-round singles loss at the U.S. Open in 2022 to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović, leaving her one short of matching the all-time Grand Slam singles record of 24. When she stepped away from professional tennis, Williams said she was “evolving away from tennis” rather than retiring, which kept the door open for speculation about her future.

Life Beyond Tennis

Since leaving competitive tennis, Williams has focused on business ventures and motherhood. Over the past 15 years, Williams has invested in more than 120 companies, 14 valued at $1 billion or more, and Serena Ventures has raised over $100 million to invest in more than 30 companies since 2021. She has also been teaching tennis to her younger daughter, 2-year-old Adira, whilst raising her older daughter Olympia, now eight.

What This Means for Tennis Fans

Despite Williams’ clear denial, her decision to register with the testing pool highlights how her legacy continues to captivate the sporting world. The fact that her mere name appearing on an administrative list could generate such excitement demonstrates her enduring impact on tennis. Whilst fans may have hoped for one final chapter, Williams appears content with her new ventures, focusing on family and business rather than a return to the court that made her a legend.