Could Serena Williams return in 2026? ITIA move suggests possibility

The 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams could return to the courts in 2026, after applying for reinstatement to the ITIA’s Registered Testing Pool. This means that the former world No. 1 could become eligible for a return to the courts within six months.

According to the ITIA's anti-doping regulations, players must provide their daily whereabouts for random drug testing. Tennis players participating in official ATP, WTA, and ITF competitions provide the ITIA with their whereabouts for one hour a day each year, during which they must remain at the registered location in case of an unannounced drug control visit.

The American formally requested her retirement back in 2022, following her last match at the US Open against Ajla Tomljanovic. Serena had reached the 3rd round—including a win over world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit along the way—and ended her career at 40 in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, a venue where she won the title six times between 1999 and 2014.

According to tennis specialist journalist Ben Rothenberg on his outlet Bounces, Serena has applied for reinstatement into the random drug testing system. Williams's name still appears on the list of retired players and is not yet officially listed among those reinstated—although Rothenberg notes that names are officially added to the list once six months have passed since the request.

According to the journalist, Serena had already attempted a potential return this season in August. However, the short notice—barely a month before the tournament—frustrated her plans, as the ITIA does not allow such spontaneous returns on such short notice. Such was the case with Andy Roddick back in 2014, who tried to return to play doubles with Mardy Fish but could not participate as he was outside the Registered Testing Pool.

The ITIA regulation states: “The players listed here have declared themselves retired from the sport and may not return to sanctioned events unless they have made themselves available for out-of-competition testing for at least six months prior to the event in question.”

Williams was hoping to play at the past US Open—presumably in doubles with her sister, Venus Williams—precisely during months when several videos showed the former player training and getting physically fit, though the comeback ultimately did not materialize.

Considering that Williams reportedly applied to the pool in the last few days, she could be eligible to return to the court around mid-year. While it wouldn't be far-fetched to imagine her at Wimbledon (which starts June 29th), it is more sensible to think that if she returns, it will be during the North American swing, following a schedule similar to that of her sister Venus Williams this year.

'Queen V', unlike her sister, has never officially retired, which simplified her return to the courts after 16 months. In her comeback, she played three tournaments: the DC Open, Cincinnati Open, and the US Open—competing in both singles and doubles matches to prepare for the final Grand Slam of the year. At Flushing Meadows, she paired with Leylah Fernandez in doubles—advancing to the quarter-finals—and in mixed doubles, she joined Reilly Opelka, being eliminated in the opening match. In singles, her run also ended quickly, falling in three sets to the 11th seed Karolína Muchová.

Serena Williams ended her career with an incredible record of 855-152, a total of 73 titles, of which 23 were Grand Slams and another 23 were WTA 1000s. The American also accumulated 5 WTA Finals titles, an Olympic gold medal in singles at London 2012, and three doubles gold medals alongside her sister Venus—with whom she also added another 14 Major titles throughout her career.