Serena Williams quietly steps back into the competitive tennis scene by re-entering the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) testing pool, a crucial first step towards possibly making a comeback for the 2026 season.
At 44 years old, Williams has not played an official match since her 2019 US Open third-round exit and filed paperwork with the ITIA in 2022 to exempt herself from stringent whereabouts requirements. To compete again, however, players must make themselves available for out-of-competition testing for six months before entering any event.
The ITIA confirmed that Williams had requested reinstatement and was placed on their updated list dated October 6. However, she publicly disputed the notion of a potential comeback, jokingly writing "Omg yall I'm NOT coming back" on X after her name appeared on the list.
Williams's inclusion in the pool is a significant development for fans and pundits alike, given the 23-time grand slam singles champion's long-term hiatus from professional tennis. With top players typically having to go through extensive training regimens before returning to competition, Williams's swift move could signal an accelerated return to form.
The possibility of a comeback has been circulating quietly in tennis circles, particularly with regards to her potential participation in the 2026 US Open mixed doubles event. However, her current status as "retired" meant she was not eligible to enter the tournament earlier this year.
It remains to be seen whether Williams will choose to pursue a competitive singles return or focus on preserving her option to do so in the future. Nonetheless, her reappearance on the ITIA documents restores her eligibility timeline and paves the way for a potential comeback as early as mid-2026.
At 44 years old, Williams has not played an official match since her 2019 US Open third-round exit and filed paperwork with the ITIA in 2022 to exempt herself from stringent whereabouts requirements. To compete again, however, players must make themselves available for out-of-competition testing for six months before entering any event.
The ITIA confirmed that Williams had requested reinstatement and was placed on their updated list dated October 6. However, she publicly disputed the notion of a potential comeback, jokingly writing "Omg yall I'm NOT coming back" on X after her name appeared on the list.
Williams's inclusion in the pool is a significant development for fans and pundits alike, given the 23-time grand slam singles champion's long-term hiatus from professional tennis. With top players typically having to go through extensive training regimens before returning to competition, Williams's swift move could signal an accelerated return to form.
The possibility of a comeback has been circulating quietly in tennis circles, particularly with regards to her potential participation in the 2026 US Open mixed doubles event. However, her current status as "retired" meant she was not eligible to enter the tournament earlier this year.
It remains to be seen whether Williams will choose to pursue a competitive singles return or focus on preserving her option to do so in the future. Nonetheless, her reappearance on the ITIA documents restores her eligibility timeline and paves the way for a potential comeback as early as mid-2026.
like isn't it good enough that she's retired already? but i guess if she wants to come back, she needs to be on the testing pool first 
at least now we have a legit timeline to look out for maybe mid 2026 will see her back on the court 
fingers crossed 
Serena's coming back into tennis is like a big deal! She was just chillin' after that 2019 US Open exit, but now she's already making moves to get back on the court. This could be super interesting for her fans and the whole tennis world... I'm thinking maybe she'll drop some new moves on us in 2026 
I've been following tennis for years and it'll be sick to see Serena back out there again. The thing that puzzles me is why she went through all this drama on X 
, seems like more hype than anything else. Still though, if anyone can make a comeback like that, it's her 
And what's with the 2026 US Open mixed doubles? That might be where we see her back in action first 
! Serena's back, baby! 44 years young and still serving up those ace serves 
. I've been rooting for her to make a comeback for ages, and now it seems like she's taking small steps towards getting back on the court. ITIA testing pool is just the beginning – we're talking major tournaments here 
. Who knows, maybe she'll shock us all with a strong singles return? Wouldn't that be something?! 
Ah man, it's crazy to think that Serena is even thinking about getting back into competitive tennis at 44 
.
. I mean, she's been out for so long, it's hard to imagine her actually competing against the younger generation without having put in some serious training time.
. And honestly, even if she doesn't end up playing competitively again, I think this just goes to show that women's tennis has come a long way in terms of providing opportunities for players of all ages 
. So, fingers crossed for the Queen 
! 
. At 44, she's not getting any younger, but if anyone can make it work, it's her 
. If anyone can do it, it's Serena. Bring it on, 2026 – I'm excited to see what she's got in store for us!
. With her name on the ITIA list, it's clear she's serious about making a comeback 
. One thing's for sure, we're about to witness some epic comebacks on court