Serena Williams refuses to rule out tennis return in awkward exchange

The 23-time grand slam champion has not played competitively since the 2022 US Open, but passed up the chance to shut down rumours of a return

Serena Williams refused to rule out a return tennis during an awkward exchange on the Today Show.

The 23-time grand slam champion has not played competitive tennis since the US Open in 2022, announcing that she would be “evolving away” from the sport, rather than using the word “retirement”.

There was speculation in December that she had re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) registered testing pool, which all players must be signed up to for at least six months before playing competitively.

(Reuters)

In December, Williams shut down reports that she was planning a return - posting on X, “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy” - but she refused to rule out a comeback when pressed on the topic on the Today Show, even as her answers sparked some confusion.

“I mean, really, are you asking this on the Today Show? Oh, my goodness," the 44-year-old said when the idea of a potential playing return was put to her.

“Is that a no? I'm just having fun and enjoying my life right now. That's not a yes or no. I don't know. I'm just gonna see what happens. That’s not a ‘maybe’.

“I have two kids. I'm a full time stay at home. When I filled out a form the other day. Occupation? Housewife.”

Asked on whether she had re-entered the drug testing pool, Williams replied: “Did I re-enter? I don't know if I was out. Listen, I can't discuss this.”

With the chance to put the “coming-out-of-retirement rumours” to bed, Williams replied: “I want to go to bed, it’s early”.

Remember when my Bounces report about Serena Williams returning to tennis came out in December and Serena tweeted out a denial hours later?

Well, Serena did a whole lot less denying today on The Today Show… pic.twitter.com/9uoODBjrWz

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 29, 2026

Williams could have been inspired by her older sister Venus Williams becoming the oldest women to compete at the Australian Open this month, as she fell to a competitive first-round loss at the age of 45.

Venus also played in all three formats at the US Open last season, which included a run to the quarter-finals of the women’s doubles with partner Leylah Fernandez.

There has been some speculation that the revamped US Open mixed doubles, now played the week before the singles draw in an effort to get more top players to compete, could attract Williams to return.