Serena Williams Speaks Out on Comeback Speculations: 'This Rumor Mill is Out of Control'

Serena Williams has firmly denied any plans to return to professional tennis. On Tuesday, December 2, the 44-year-old tennis icon took to X to clarify: Omg yall Im NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.

The speculation started after Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, requested to rejoin the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)s International Registered Testing Pool, a mandatory step for active players subject to drug testing.

According to The New York Times, an ITIA representative confirmed that Williams re-entering the testing pool does not officially indicate a comeback. The reason behind her request remains unclear, especially since retired athletes must undergo six months of out-of-competition testing before being eligible to compete professionally again.

Fans were divided over her announcement on social media. One user commented, She retired, my denial did not. Thats the real wildfire here. Another urged her to reconsider, saying, We have decided on your behalf, while a third remarked, The wildfire is a reflection of how much people miss you.

Williams has expressed discomfort with the term retirement, preferring to describe her 2022 departure from tennis as evolving away from the sport. Since then, she has concentrated on her business and fashion ventures.

Williams concludes her career holding the record for the most major singles titles in the Open era among women, with seven Australian Open victories, three French Open titles, seven Wimbledons, and six US Opens. Meanwhile, her sister Venus Williams competed at the US Open this year for the 25th time at age 45.

Author: Sophia Brooks