SERENA WILLIAMS is plotting a stunning return to professional tennis, according to reports.
Th 23-time singles Grand Slam champion, 44, quit the sport in 2022.
She notably declined to use the word “retire” at the time, instead writing in an essay for Vogue that she was “evolving away” from the sport.
Williams‘ last pro match came in the third round of that year’s US Open, in which she lost 7-5 6-7 6-1 to Ajla Tomljanovic.
The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion raised eyebrows last December when it emerged that she had re-entered the sport’s anti-doping testing pool.
To compete in pro-tennis, a player must have been in the pool for at least six months.
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This led to rampant speculation that Williams was plotting a return to the sport.
She subsequently poured cold water on the notion, writing on X: “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
According to the Telegraph, however, several high-profile figures within the sport don’t believe her.
They claim that Williams’ return has been a hot topic among figures at the Australian Open.
The tennis icon is said to believe that she could still beat many players on the WTA tour.
Williams will have been back in the testing pool long enough to return at Roland Garros this summer, should she wish.
While a Wimbledon comeback could be on the cards too.
Williams’ last appearance in SW19 saw her lose a remarkable three-hour epic first round to little-known Harmony Tan in 2022.
It would be understandable if that final outing on the famous lawn of Centre Court left a sour taste.
Another option could see Williams play at the US Open.
It was speculated last year that she was eager to play in the glitzy revamped mixed doubles event at Flushing Meadows, only to be thwarted by the testing pool rule.
Williams’ big sister Venus is still playing aged 45.
The seven-time Major champion looked competitive as she went three sets with Olga Danilovic at the Australian Open earlier this week.
Could the Williams sisters team up again in future, as they did so successfully in the past?
Former Australian Open and French Open champion Jim Courier said: “Serena denied she’s coming back.
“But I think unless she gets injured there is no doubt she’s going to play somewhere at some point.
“Whether that’s the mixed doubles at the US Open, whether that’s doubles with her sister somewhere, whether it’s singles, only she knows. But there’s no other way to interpret that.”
Williams gave birth to her first child Olympia in 2017 before later returning to tennis.
She then had second child Adira in August 2023.
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