'This wildfire is crazy' - Serena Williams responds to stunning comeback rumours after returning to tennis’ registered anti-doping testing pool
Updated 03/12/2025 at 10:20 GMT
Serena Williams had seemingly made the first official step towards a possible return to competitive tennis, three years since her last match - potentially looking to follow sister Venus in making a dramatic comeback to the sport at the age of 44. Williams has won 23 major singles titles and 14 major doubles titles. However, she has now poured cold water on rumours of a comeback on social media.
'I went for it' - Venus Williams 'proud' of doubles run in New York after quarter-final exit
Video credit: SNTV
Serena Williams has quashed rumours that she could make a remarkable return to competitive tennis.
Three years on from her last professional appearance, the 44-year-old made headlines after telling International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) that she wanted to return to tennis’ registered anti-doping testing pool.
However, hopes of a stunning comeback to the sport suffered a blow on Tuesday evening, when Williams stated that she is "not coming back" in a post on social media.
She last played at the 2022 US Open, where she was beaten in the third round by Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in three sets.
"Omg yall I’m NOT coming back," she posted on X, formerly Twitter. "This wildfire is crazy."
Williams has won 23 major singles titles, the third-most in tennis history behind Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic.
She now appears on the ITIA player pool, which was dated October 6, 2025.
The testing pool contains every player in both the men’s and women’s top 100 singles rankings, as well as elite doubles and wheelchair players, and players looking to return to the sport after a long absence.
When in the pool, players must give their whereabouts at any given time, 365 days of the year, while a player must be part of the pool for six months before they are entitled to enter a professional tournament.
Williams announced she was "evolving away" from the sport in 2022, but her return to the playing pool suggests she could be looking at a stunning comeback.
Her sister Venus, 45, returned to the sport after 16 months away in July and has confirmed she will be competing at the Auckland Classic in January, with an eye on entering the Australian Open after that.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/07/23/image-af8e3a86-6738-4271-b200-1a1efcc412ca-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Venus Williams becomes the oldest player to win a WTA tour-level singles match since 2004
Video credit: SNTV
The pair were a formidable force when it came to doubles, winning 14 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic gold medals.
With Williams not entitled to return to tournaments until April, the 2026 US Open could be her first major back in the sport, if she chose to, in a wildcard spot in either the women’s or mixed doubles.
Her name is still currently on the list of retired players, where it has been since September 3, 2022, but that will not change until she has completed six months of whereabouts duty, when she will then be able to return to competitive action again.
- Serena Williams reveals one of toughest defeats of her career while inducting rival into hall of fame
- 'Building a better Emma Raducanu' the focus for 'more robust' Brit heading into 2026 season
- Draper delays return from arm injury as he pulls out of Ultimate Tennis Showdown final
The difference between the two Williams sisters' comebacks is that Venus never officially retired, allowing her to get straight back into competing without the need to wait for six months.
Serena has the most all-time prize money for women, totalling $94,816,730, and she had a career singles and, bizarrely, doubles win record of 84.6%.
She never held the calendar Grand Slam, but had sealed the career Grand Slam, where you must win all four major tournaments, by 2003, when she won the first of her seven Australian Open titles.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/05/31/image-6b5d6587-1ec7-4f41-a0e6-49fb50e5c071-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'I'm so proud of you' - Williams has 'moment' with Gauff and Stephens at French Open
Video credit: TNT Sports
Serena also won the career Grand Slam in doubles, with the Australian Open again the final piece of the puzzle, sealing that in 2001.
She won at Wimbledon 13 times, with seven singles titles and six doubles titles, while she claimed both the singles and doubles events in 2016.
Serena's last singles title came at the Australian Open in 2017, when she beat sister Venus in the final at the age of 36, which saw her overtake Steffi Graff’s record of women’s major singles titles in the Open Era.
Watch and stream top tennis action, including the 2026 Australian Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement