Professional tennis superstar Serena Williams may return to the court after being listed as eligible to return to the court on February 22 by the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
As of Monday, nearly six months after Williams registered with the sports drug testing organization, he was listed on the ITIA website’s reinstatement page. While there are no official plans for Williams to return, the process has opened the way for her to return if she chooses.
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Last year, when news broke that Williams signed up to re-enter the ITIA drug testing pool, she responded to fans via social media. “Oh my god, I’m not coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Williams, one of the most decorated players in sports history, has not competed since the 2022 U.S. Open. She retired from the sport in 2022 to focus on her family and other business ventures outside of her tennis career. At the time, Williams didn’t want to use the word “retirement,” choosing instead to say she was stepping away from tennis.
Professional athletes who return for testing under ITIA supervision must provide information about their whereabouts, the times when samples can be provided, and their locations when not participating in official events. Athletes who retire on the roster and choose to return later must undergo six months of testing before officially returning to competition.
Williams’ treasure chest of honors includes 73 career titles (23 Grand Slams), four Olympic gold medals, and a career singles record of 858-156.
