Serena Williams Enables Her Return to Professional Tennis
The iconic American tennis player, Serena Williams, has taken a significant step towards her possible return to the professional circuit. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has declared her eligible to compete again starting February 22nd. This announcement marks a milestone in Williams’ comeback process, who temporarily retired from professional tennis. Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles and former world number one, enrolled six months ago in the anti-doping program required for athletes wishing to return to official activity. Meeting this regulatory requirement is a crucial step for her eventual return to the courts. However, there is still no official confirmation on when or where, and even if, the 44-year-old tennis player will compete in a professional tournament.Since her farewell at the 2022 US Open, Williams has kept a low profile in the competitive arena. On that occasion, she avoided talking about definitive retirement, indicating that she was “evolving” towards a new stage outside of tennis. The regulations require returning players to provide detailed information about their whereabouts and be available for testing for a minimum period of six months before competing again.When in 2025 it became known that Williams had initiated the process to re-enter the anti-doping control system, the player herself used her social media to clarify that she was not officially announcing her return to the courts.
Serena Williams
Serena’s possible return occurs in a context in which her older sister, Venus Williams, returned to the circuit last year at the age of 45, after a prolonged absence. Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, expressed at the time that she would love to share the court again with Serena, with whom she won 14 major doubles titles.
For now, anticipation grows in the world of tennis at the possibility that one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport will decide to write a new chapter in their career. Meanwhile, the landscape remains open and without official confirmations about their competitive schedule.
