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Serena Williams could be making her return to professional tennis.
Williams has avoided saying “retirement” since last playing in 2022. This fall, the 44-year-old tennis star took an official step to return to the tour by informing the International Tennis Integrity Agency that she would like to reenter the International Registered Testing Pool.
Though the Oct. 6 pool included Williams’s name, news of her rejoining the drug testing program emerged Tuesday. She could be eligible to play tournaments beginning in April.
“I do not know if this means she is coming back, or just giving herself the option,” an ITIA spokesperson told The Athletic. “All I can say is she’s back in the pool and therefore subject to whereabouts.”
Williams later denied that she was plotting a return to tennis. “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy-,” she tweeted.
Any player who reenters has to be in the pool for at least six months before playing a tournament.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion’s return to the pool doesn’t guarantee her return to the court. Being back in the program means Williams needs to provide her daily whereabouts for the agency to conduct no-notice testing.
“We are aware that Serena has filed the necessary paperwork with the International Tennis Integrity Agency to reenter the International Registered Testing Pool,” the USTA told FOS in a statement. “If Serena decides to return and compete at the professional level, together with her fans we will enthusiastically welcome the return of one of the greatest champions in the history of our sport.”
The WTA did not immediately return requests for comment.
Williams’s older sister, Venus—a seven-time Grand Slam champion—completed a noteworthy US Open run in August that ended with a quarterfinals doubles loss.
