Serena Williams misses singles comeback chance after Canadian Open awards final wild cards

Serena Williams will not make her long-awaited singles return at the Canadian Open in Toronto, ending speculation that the 23-time Grand Slam champion could compete at the first WTA 1000 event of the North American hard-court swing.

The tournament announced its final main draw wild cards, with the last two spots awarded to Canadian players Carol Zhao and Ariana Arseneault. They join a strong list of invited players that includes Venus Williams, Bianca Andreescu, Kayla Cross, Rebecca Marino, Katherine Sebov and Cadence Brace.

Williams had emerged as one of the biggest potential attractions for the Toronto tournament after returning to the spotlight during the grass-court season. However, following her Wimbledon appearance, where she was dealing with a knee injury, the American legend entered a recovery period and will not receive a singles wild card in Canada.

A doubles appearance remains possible, though, as organizers have yet to confirm the full list of doubles wild cards. Tennis Canada Vice President of Communications Valérie Tétreault recently revealed that the organization remains in direct contact with Williams’ team while monitoring her recovery. "We are in discussions with her team. We are monitoring her recovery day by day. For now, no final decision has been made, but we are keeping all options open," Tétreault told L’Équipe few days ago.

The possibility of Williams competing in Toronto gained momentum in recent weeks after Tennis Canada confirmed it was exploring the possibility of inviting the former world No. 1, although the final decision depended on her physical condition.

However, organizers ultimately used the remaining singles wild cards on Canadian players, meaning Williams will have to wait longer for her next singles appearance.

The American returned to singles competition at Wimbledon for the first time in four years after receiving a wild card from the All England Club. Her comeback ended in the first round with a defeat against Maya Joint, and shortly afterward she revealed a knee issue that also forced her to withdraw from the doubles tournament alongside her sister Venus Williams.

At 44 years old, Williams has repeatedly emphasized that her comeback is about enjoying the opportunity to compete again rather than following a strict schedule. Toronto represented one of the first major opportunities of the North American hard-court swing, but fans will now have to wait a little longer to see her back in singles action.

Although singles is no longer a possibility in Toronto, Williams could still appear in the doubles draw if she and her team decide that returning in that format is the right step.

A doubles appearance would provide a lower-pressure opportunity to regain match rhythm before the next major stage of her comeback. That was the approach she followed during the grass-court season, using doubles events at Queen’s Club Championships and the Berlin Ladies Open as preparation before Wimbledon.

Williams’ main objective in the coming weeks will be arriving in the best possible physical condition for the US Open, where a return would appear likely if she is healthy enough to compete.

After skipping the Canadian Open, Cincinnati could become the next realistic opportunity for her return, with the WTA 1000 event taking place in around two weeks. If she is not ready, Williams could postpone her comeback until New York, although it would be surprising for her to enter the US Open without at least one hard-court tournament beforehand.