Serena Williams shocks the tennis world after her name appears in the drug testing pool, but she quickly denies any plans to return to the sport

Serena Williams has set tongues wagging in the tennis world after filing the necessary paperwork to re-enter the sport’s drug testing pool, yet she insists that she is not making a comeback. The 44-year-old tennis icon, who retired after the 2022 US Open, left fans and pundits confused by her latest move, with many wondering why she would register again if she has no intention of returning to competition.

Williams, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time with a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles, has not played since her emotional third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in New York in 2022. In her final US Open appearance, Williams fought valiantly, saving five match points before eventually being knocked out. The occasion was a star-studded event, with the likes of Bill Clinton, Billie Jean King, Tiger Woods, and Mike Tyson in the crowd, celebrating her illustrious career.

Following the news that her name had been re-added to the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) drug testing pool, Williams took to social media to quash any speculation. “I’m NOT coming back,” she posted, adding, “This wildfire is crazy.” Despite this clear statement, the reason behind her decision to re-register remains unclear, as it invites out-of-competition testers to visit.

In 2022, Williams famously shied away from calling her departure from tennis a retirement, instead saying she was “evolving away” from the sport. Her return to the drug testing pool raises further questions about what might be next for the tennis legend.

While no specifics have been released about when Williams requested to be re-added to the list, players who wish to return must be available for drug testing for at least six months before they can officially compete again. This means that if she had only just requested her re-entry in October 2023, she would be eligible to return by April 2024, although Williams has firmly shut down any thoughts of making such a move.

Notably, Williams’ older sister Venus, who has enjoyed a remarkable career of her own, made a successful return to the singles tour after a 16-month absence earlier this year. At 45, Venus competed in both singles and doubles at the 2023 US Open, even reaching the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles alongside partner Leylah Fernandez.

While a Williams sisters reunion on the court remains a tantalising prospect for fans, with 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals to their name, it appears that Serena’s competitive days are behind her, at least for now.

Serena Williams remains one of the most decorated athletes in tennis history, with a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles, seven at the Australian Open, three French Opens, seven Wimbledons, and six US Opens. She stands only behind Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic in terms of Grand Slam singles titles, making her a true legend of the sport.

Despite her retirement, Serena continues to have a lasting impact on tennis, and her latest move has only added to the intrigue surrounding her post-tennis career.