Tennis icon Serena Williams may be preparing for a sensational return to the sport, three years after playing her last professional match.
According to The Athletics’ Matthew Futterman, Williams has officially notified the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) of her intention to reenter the International Registered Testing Pool a key requirement for any athlete considering a return to competitive play. Her name appeared on the ITIA’s updated player pool list dated October 6
An ITIA spokesperson confirmed the development, saying:
She has notified us that she wants to be reinstated into the testing pool.
I do not know if this means she is coming back or simply giving herself the option. All I can say is she’s back in the pool and therefore subject to whereabouts.
Players must remain in the testing pool for six months before they can compete again.
Williams, 44, last appeared on court during the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open, after which she formally retired and was exempted from routine drug testing.
In a recent interview with Porter magazine, the 23-time Grand Slam champion admitted she is still adjusting to life away from professional tennis.
No matter how prepared you are to retire, it’s hard. I prepped myself the best way I could, but it’s still a little difficult, she said.
Since stepping away from the sport, Williams has focused on motherhood, her philanthropic foundation, and her involvement in the ownership group of Angel City FC, alongside her husband Alexis Ohanian, among other ventures.
