“I think she wants to try to play again”: Billie Jean King addresses Serena Williams’ potential return

Legendary Billie Jean King heaped praise on Serena Williams following speculations about her potential return. The 23-time Grand Slam champion was targeted for a possible return to professionalism after her name appeared on the official ITIA list as selectable for anti-doping tests.

As reported by journalist Ben Rothenberg a week ago, Williams had signed up for official anti-doping tests, which implies that she would be eligible to play a professional tournament again within a few months. Although the 44-year-old former star denied the possibility of a return, speculation grew in the tennis world.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, 12-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King believes that Serena would be delighted to return to high-level competition, even knowing that she cannot return to the results of her best years as a professional. "I think she wants to try to play again. But I think she's also very bright and very smart that she knows she's not going to be No 1 again,” King commented. "But if you love to play, why not? I mean, she's all set in life. She doesn't need it financially, and she enjoys it.”

King recalled meeting a very young Serena Williams when she was just a child and beginning to be introduced to tennis, although she already showed shocking talent. "I met her when she was six and Venus was seven at a tennis clinic we gave in Long Beach, California. They came with their dad Richard. It was an amazing day. I'll never forget it,” King claimed. "We had the kids hit back and forth from the audience. Because they're so exceptional. You could see right away they're exceptional.”

Although Serena Williams denied via social media that she was planning a return to the courts, the doubt as to why her name reappeared among players eligible for anti-doping tests has not been fully cleared up.

"Personally, I would love it [if Williams came back],” added former World No. 1 Billie Jean King. "I want everyone to understand one thing about Serena. Serena has the most beautiful service game in the world, ever. No one's ever had a better technique on their serve than Serena Williams.”

The American also highlighted Serena Williams' great service technique, of whom she did not hesitate to say that—technically—it is the best in history. "I saw it when she was six years old. I saw her serve. I went: 'Oh my God, don't change a thing', King stated.

"If she does come back, I want people to appreciate her serve. Pete Sampras and I used to talk about it. Her serve is so perfect technically. All the kids out there that want to be great, watch her serve. Her serve is the all-time technique ever in the history of the game, still.”

Serena Williams ended her career back in 2022 after 25 years of a spectacular career. Her last appearance was at the US Open, where she reached the 4th round and ended up falling to Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.

Williams reached 33 Grand Slam finals, winning 23 titles, 7 of them against her sister Venus Williams. There were a total of 7 Australian Opens, 7 Wimbledons, 6 US Opens, and 3 Roland Garros titles, for a total of 73 total titles, among which are included 23 WTA 1000s and 5 WTA Finals, in addition to the Olympic gold medal in London 2012.

Williams also finished a total of 5 seasons as World No. 1 and a total of 15 seasons at least inside the top 7 of the WTA. She added a total of 178 wins against top-10 players and a total of 17 victories against the reigning World No. 1. She ended her career with more than 94 million dollars in prize money and an incredible 858-156 record throughout her career.