Hours after the information broke on Tuesday that Serena Williams had reentered the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company’s (ITIA) registered testing pool, the 23-time main champion disputed that it meant she was planning a return to the game.
“Omg yall I am NOT coming again,” Williams, 44, posted on X. “This wildfire is loopy”
Omg yall I am NOT coming again. This wildfire is crazy-
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) December 2, 2025
Williams, extensively thought-about the best ladies’s participant within the sport’s historical past, retired from tennis in 2022 following the US Open. She has since reportedly requested to be reinstated and her title is included in the newest listing of gamers within the testing pool, dated Oct. 6. The Athletic first reported Williams’ inclusion on the listing on Tuesday.
Jill Smoller, Williams’ longtime agent, has not but responded to ESPN’s request for remark.
Per protocol, Williams formally declared herself retired with the ITIA in 2022, which meant she would now not be subjected to routine drug testing. Her title stays listed on the positioning as retired, however she could be eligible to return to competitors and be listed as a reinstated participant following six months of being an lively participant within the pool. These gamers — which incorporates most within the prime 100 — should present their whereabouts at any given time, daily, and take part in random testing. It’s unclear why Williams would topic herself to such strict monitoring if she was not contemplating enjoying once more.
Williams’ older sister Venus, 45, made her return to the WTA Tour in July following a 16-month absence. After a memorable first-round exit on the US Open, Serena expressed her delight and admiration for her sister on social media and added “P.S. I hope to be such as you,” on the finish of her publish. Venus was requested repeatedly a few potential Serena return all through the summer time, and he or she admitted she by no means needed her to retire.
“I imply, I preserve saying to my crew, ‘The one factor that will make this higher is that if she was right here,’ like we at all times did the whole lot collectively, so after all I miss her,” Venus stated on the Citi Open in July. “But when she comes again, I am positive she’ll let y’all know.”
Venus lately accepted a wild card to play on the Auckland Open in January. Serena received the final WTA title of her profession, and the one one after coming back from maternity depart, on the match in 2020.
