Early December was quite something for the tennis world after Ben Rothenberg reported that the former 23-time Grand Slam champion had re-entered ITIA’s doping testing pool.
After suffering a torn hamstring at Wimbledon in 2021, the former world number 1 returned to singles 12 months later at the championships. The American then announced that the 2022 US Open would be the last tournament of her career. She then won her first two matches at Flushing Meadows before falling short in a three-setter against Ajla Tomljanovic.
In the following months after her retirement, Williams admitted that she felt “tempted to return.” Since then, she has also welcomed her second child.
Although retired, Williams has remained very active in the gym. This year, the former 23-time Grand Slam champion revealed that she had lost 31 pounds (14 kilograms) with the help of Ozempic.
Mouratoglou, who won ten Grand Slam titles with the American during their ten-year spell, hopes the 44-year-old returns to the Tour.
Mouratoglou: Williams is physically ready… I would like to see her back in action
“I would like to see a comeback from Serena in 2026. Why not? We have all seen the images of Serena torn. She is physically ready. Novak said he would like to see her back. She posted a video of herself playing tennis. So why not? I would really like to see if she can compete at the age she is without playing a single tournament for three years and give birth for the second time,” Mouratoglou said in an Instagram video.
Meanwhile, Williams strongly denied she would return.
“Omg everyone, I am NOT coming back. This forest fire is insane,” the American tennis legend wrote on X on the same day news of her return to the ITIA doping testing pool dropped.
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