Nearly four years after stepping away from tennis, American tennis legend Serena Williams is set to make a comeback to the professional circuit, as she has received clearance from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to compete professionally.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, had announced in 2022 that she was “evolving away from tennis”. However, as of February 22, her name appears on the ITIA’s reinstated list, with her removal from the retired players list signalling that she has satisfied the governing body’s return-to-play requirements.
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Under ITIA protocol, players “may not return to sanctioned events unless they have made themselves available for out-of-competition testing for at least six months prior to the event in question”. Williams completed her stint in the International Registered Testing Pool (IRTP), thereby fulfilling the mandatory eligibility criteria to re-enter sanctioned tournaments.
While the American legend has not made any comments about her decision to play again, her longtime youth coach Rick Macci believes her return to competitive tennis is imminent.
“She’s training with lots of sparring partners – guys,” he told L’Equipe. “She’s also played with Alycia Parks, a good friend of hers in South Florida. So I have no doubt about it (her comeback). I always thought she would come back from time to time to make appearances with Venus in doubles.
“But we’re not just talking about doubles here … she’s going all out. If she didn’t think she could compete with the best and win matches, she wouldn’t do it. It’s 100% certain she’ll dive back into competition.”
Focus now shifts to whether Williams could make her potential comeback soon. The next major tournament on the calendar is the Indian Wells Open, beginning on March 4. At the moment, Serena does not appear on the wildcard list. The organisers of the event have also not confirmed anything about her participation either. Front Office Sports said they have received “no word or indication from Serena and her team regarding any plans to return”.
There is also a possibility that Serena could pair up with Venus Williams, who has received a wildcard entry into Indian Wells.
Indian Wells also carries historical significance. In 2001, both Williams sisters and their father, Richard Williams, were subjected to racial abuse at the tournament, prompting a boycott of the event that lasted for several years. Relations improved over time, and Serena returned to the event in 2015.
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It must be noted that the organisers of the event are yet to confirm the names of seven wildcard entries, keeping the door open for Serena’s entry.
Following Indian Wells, the Miami Open – the second leg of the Sunshine Double – is scheduled from March 17 to 29. Whether Serena chooses California or Florida, or another event entirely, her eligibility marks a significant development in women’s tennis and raises the prospect of one of the sport’s most decorated champions stepping back onto the court.
