Serena Williams could return to tennis very shortly, much to the surprise of fans of the sport everywhere.
Following a six-month stint in the anti-doping testing pool, Williams is eligible to play from February 22nd, just 10 days from now.
It remains to be seen where the 23-time Grand Slam champion will return, and indeed in what format.
Her sister Venus Williams made a similar comeback to the WTA Tour last year, and has since played both singles and doubles.
Serena Williams’ impending comeback has now been discussed by Jon Wertheim, who has suggested her last-ever Wimbledon match may be inspiring her return.
Serena Williams would finish 2026 ranked — in the world if she came out of retirement
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Serena Williams supposedly still annoyed by early 2022 Wimbledon exit
Williams lost to Harmony Tan in the first round of Wimbledon in 2022, before suffering a third round exit at that year’s US Open, at which point she had seemingly retired.
But Wertheim writes for Sports Illustrated: “Does comeback mean Williams plays doubles, perhaps with her sister, with eyes on Wimbledon and/or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
“Does comeback mean she puts herself back on the whereabouts list so she can play the mixed event at the US Open?
“Does comeback mean she pulls a Lindsey Vonn – in the best sense of the word, hopefully without any adverse consequences – and gears up for one last hoorah (i.e. Wimbledon 2026)?
“Williams whisperers are quick to note that her last match – a defeat to Harmony Tan, unworthy of a seven-time champion – still sticks in her craw.
“Or does she go full-bore and try to resume a legitimate singles career? My guess is some version of the first three.”
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Serena Williams motivated by watching the US Open
Of course, Williams has not confirmed her comeback to tennis, but importantly she hasn’t denied it either.
And as Wertheim has also argued, the fact that she re-entered the anti-doping testing pool speaks volumes.
He noted: “No one enters doping protocols without designs of coming back. I’ve yet to find anyone who voluntarily likes to submit their whereabouts to strangers and avail themselves of getting blood drawn indiscriminately.
“We know she’s been practicing with an assortment of sparring partners. (Yes, Alycia Parks, but also Jesse Levine, a leftie who was often summoned by Roger Federer.)
“We also understand, via hearsay, that Serena was motivated by watching the US Open – both mixed events and patchy singles events – that did not exactly douse her fire to return.”
The US Open went all-out to attract fans last year, with Venus Williams among the long list of star names to have taken on the revamped mixed doubles tournament.
Williams won that event in 1998, doing the same at Wimbledon, while she also completed the career Grand Slam in doubles alongside her sister.
Along with those astonishing feats, the American completed the career Grand Slam in singles, including seven Wimbledon titles and six US Open titles.
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