Serena Williams could be on the verge of a remarkable tennis comeback.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion was recently seen training with top-100 star Alycia Parks.
Eligible to return after spending six months in the anti-doping testing pool, Williams could come back to the WTA Tour, should she choose to.
Serena Williams would finish 2026 ranked — in the world if she came out of retirement
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Reacting to footage of her former rival training with Parks, Kim Clijsters shared what Williams would struggle with most if she returned.
Kim Clijsters thinks Serena Williams could struggle with her serve if she returns
During the latest episode of the ‘Love All‘ podcast, Clijsters said the following.
“I can speak with a little bit of experience there, the serve is the hardest shot, when you’ve been out of the game for a while, to get the shoulder loose, and get that rhythm back,” she said.
Sum up Serena Williams’ career in one word
The serve was one of Williams’ biggest weapons during her best years on tour.
In 2013, the year Williams won 11 titles and only lost four matches, she led the WTA Tour in two key serving metrics.
Serena Williams’ serving stats in 2013
- Aces – 480 (1st on WTA Tour)
- 1st Serve % – 62.2% (128th on WTA Tour)
- 1st Serve points won % – 74.7% (5th on WTA Tour)
- 2nd Serve % – 51.2% (10th on WTA Tour)
- Serve points won % – 65.8% (1st on WTA Tour)
- Break points saved % – 64.8% (16th on WTA Tour)
- Service games won % – 84.1% (2nd on WTA Tour)
It wasn’t just in 2013 that Williams impressed, as many believe she was the greatest server in women’s tennis history.
During an interview with BBC Sport in 2015, tennis legend Steffi Graf gave her verdict on Williams’ serve.
“That’s the biggest weapon out there, for sure. I think that’s the biggest weapon there has ever been in the sport,” she said.
If Williams wants to be competitive in 2026, she’ll need her serve more than ever.
However fit she is, the reality is she won’t be able to match the physicality of players 20 years younger than her.
That serve needs to be as powerful and as accurate as it was in her heyday.
Clijsters went on to note the similarities she’s seen between Williams and Parks.
“But it was really nice to see them both playing together,” she said.
“Whenever I watch Alycia Parks on the tennis court, she just reminds me of Serena. She hits her forehand like Serena, she hits the backhand, some of her reactions in between the points, very, very similar to Serena.
“A great experience for her as well, to be on the court with Serena.”
The Belgian also believes it was a good ‘test’ for Williams.
“A good test, I think, for Serena, to be able to play against a current player, who is playing well, out there competing against the best players today,” said Clijsters.
“So it’s a nice little measurement for Serena, too.”
Clijsters and Williams played nine matches between 1999 and 2009, and the pair know each other well.
Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters’ head-to-head record (7-2)
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2009 US Open – SF | Kim Clijsters | Serena Williams | 6-4, 7-5 |
| 2003 Miami Open – SF | Serena Williams | Kim Clijsters | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2003 Australian Open – SF | Serena Williams | Kim Clijsters | 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 |
| 2002 WTA Finals – F | Kim Clijsters | Serena Williams | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2002 Tokyo – F | Serena Williams | Kim Clijsters | 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2001 Miami Open – 4R | Serena Williams | Kim Clijsters | 6-0, 6-2 |
| 2001 Indian Wells – F | Serena Williams | Kim Clijsters | 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2000 Indian Wells – 4R | Serena Williams | Kim Clijsters | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 1999 US Open – 3R | Serena Williams | Kim Clijsters | 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 |
Clijsters, like the majority of the tennis world, would love nothing more than to see Williams return to competitive action soon.
When can we expect Serena Williams to return?
The short answer is that we can’t…
Williams has yet to confirm her plans to return to professional tennis.
That doesn’t mean she’s ruled out a comeback, far from it, in fact, but there are still a lot of questions to be answered.
There had been rumors that Williams would return at the ATX Open or Indian Wells, but neither materialized.
Then, responding to Maria Sharapova, Williams ruled out a comeback at Wimbledon.
If she does return, the likelihood is that we would see the 23-time major winner compete at the US Open this fall.
What better place to make a comeback than at her home Grand Slam tournament?
Only time will tell if and when Williams does return, but it will certainly be something to look out for this year.
The 2026 US Open begins on Sunday, August 30.
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