Serena Williams threw chilly water on the concept she may be making ready to return to tennis, writing on social media Tuesday that she is “NOT coming again,” after a spokesman for the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) mentioned the 23-time Grand Slam champion had registered with the game’s drug-testing physique.
That is step one that will be required by a participant in search of to return out of retirement.
The 44-year-old Williams, one of many greats of the sport, has not competed since bidding farewell on the 2022 U.S. Open. On the time, Williams mentioned she did not need to use the phrase “retiring” and as a substitute declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis.
It was not clear when or the place — or even when — Williams truly will play once more, and he or she later posted: “Omg yall I am NOT coming again. This wildfire is loopy.”
Her agent didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
In a press release emailed to The Related Press, U.S. Tennis Affiliation spokesman Brendan McIntyre mentioned: “We’re conscious that Serena has filed the required paperwork with the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company to reenter the Worldwide Registered Testing Pool. If Serena decides to return and compete on the skilled stage, collectively along with her followers, we are going to enthusiastically welcome the return of one of many best champions within the historical past of our sport.”
Williams was one of many largest stars of any sport, a dominant expertise on the courtroom and nonetheless somebody drawing consideration away from it. If she had been to finish up returning to the tour, it will be a big story line, in fact.
Her determination to position her identify again within the testing pool with the ITIA, which oversees anti-doping and anti-corruption efforts, was first reported by Bounces.
“She is on the checklist and again within the testing pool,” ITIA spokesman Adrian Bassett wrote to the AP on Tuesday.
Athletes returning to testing want to offer data on their whereabouts — particulars on their location when they aren’t at an official occasion and instances when they’re accessible to provide samples. Somebody who retires whereas they’re on the checklist and later comes again must be accessible for testing for six months earlier than they’re allowed to return to competitors.
Williams’ older sister, Venus, returned to competitors this July at age 45 after almost 1 1/2 years away from the tour; she by no means had introduced her retirement. On the U.S. Open, Venus turned the oldest participant to play singles on the American Grand Slam event since 1981.
When Venus, a seven-time main singles champion, got here again on the DC Open, she spoke about wishing Serena would be part of her again on tour. They claimed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles as a pair.
“I hold 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 every part collectively, so in fact I miss her,” Venus mentioned on the time when requested a few video on social media that confirmed Serena swinging a racket. “But when she comes again, I’m positive she’ll let y’all know.”
