Speculation surrounding a potential return to tennis for Serena Williams has continued.
Williams retired from tennis at the 2022 US Open, but there has been continued speculation about whether she would ever return.
This went to a new high after she was seen to have re-entered the drug testing pool, but Williams has denied rumours of a return.
Despite this, speculation has continued as to where Williams could return to tennis, and a WTA player has now revealed that she believes it could actually happen.
Ellen Perez claims she is ‘not sold’ on Serena Williams’ denial about returning to tennis
Although Williams has strongly denied suggestions she is returning to tennis, many people are questioning why she would re-enter the drug testing pool if that was not the case.
One of the people who has admitted she is not convinced by Williams’ denial is former top 10 doubles player Ellen Perez, who spoke about the challenges that come when you are part of the drug testing pool.
Perez also suggested that Venus Williams’ recent comeback to tennis may have inspired Serena to do the same.
“I am not sold [on her denials],” Perez said on the Australian Open Tennis Podcast. “I can tell you, when you are on the doping protocols it’s not fun. Unless she likes a 6am wake up and enjoys giving blood, there’s no way you would enter.
“I think there’s an element that she watched Venus come back and I don’t know if there is a little last go with them playing together.
“I definitely have heard the rumours of her coming back, who knows if it is true, but you don’t re-enter the protocol unless you plan on coming back, that’s how it is. So stay tuned I suppose, on that one!”
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Ellen Perez says how she thinks Serena Williams would fare if she did make a comeback
While it is currently unclear as to what Serena’s return could look like or whether she will even make a comeback at all, people are understandably getting carried away by the idea of the 23-time Grand Slam winner coming back.
Perez then spoke about how she thinks Serena will fare if she does return to tennis over three years after her last match, explaining that the biggest question marks she has are over her fitness and movement.
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“Serena is Serena,” continued Perez. “I think she is going to be amazing in general. It’s a big question mark over her fitness and movement and that was the big question around Venus but she surprised us. Her level was good and she was still beating a lot of players on this comeback.
“I don’t think Serena was doing anything half a—-, so if she is going to come back, she is not going to want to lose to someone 100 in the world and not be ready.
“Obviously she is looking fit, she is definitely a different Serena from when she was on Tour. Maybe she will lose a bit of power with the different physique but if she comes back you don’t want to draw her!”
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