Serena Williams Cleared for Return to Professional Tennis
Serena Williams has surpassed a new milestone in her possible return to professional tennis. The sport’s anti-doping organization has included her on its list of those eligible to compete as of February 22.
This announcement comes six months after the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion initially registered with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The news was made public on Monday on the ITIA’s website dedicated to readmissions.
It is still unknown when, where, or even if Williams will play again. After it was announced last year that Williams had registered with the ITIA to undergo anti-doping tests, the tennis player wrote on social media: “Oh my God, I’m not going back. This fire is crazy.”
The iconic tennis player has not competed since the 2022 US Open. At that time, Williams expressed that she preferred not to use the word “retirement” and stated that she was “evolving” away from tennis.
Athletes returning to testing must provide whereabouts information, including details of their location when not at an official event and the times they are available to provide samples. Those who retire while on the list and then return must be available for testing for six months before being able to compete again.
Serena’s older sister, Venus Williams, returned to competition in July at the age of 45 after almost a year and a half away from the circuit, without having announced her retirement. At the US Open, Venus Williams became the oldest singles player to participate in the American Grand Slam tournament since 1981.
When Venus returned, she expressed her desire for Serena to join her on the circuit.
