Professional tennis superstar Serena Williams may be on her way back to the court after being listed as eligible to return on February 22nd by the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
This comes nearly six months after Williams registered with the Sports Drug Testing Agency, which was listed on the reinstatement page of the ITIA website as of Monday. While there are no formal plans for Williams to return, this process has paved the way for her to return if she wishes.
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Last year, when news broke that Williams had registered to rejoin the ITIA drug testing pool, she responded to fans via social media. “Oh, I’m not going back. This wildfire is terrible.”
Williams, one of the most decorated competitors in the history of the sport, has not competed beyond the 2022 U.S. Open. She stepped away from the sport in 2022 to focus on her family and other business ventures outside of her tennis career. At the time, Williams didn’t want to use the word “retirement,” but decided to say she was evolving away from tennis.
Professional athletes returning to test under the supervision of the ITIA will be required to provide information about their location, the times they can provide samples, and their whereabouts outside of official events. Athletes who retire while on the list and choose to return later must undergo a six-month test before officially returning to competition.
Williams’ treasure chest of honors includes 73 career titles (23 Grand Slams), four Olympic gold medals, and a career singles record of 858 wins and 156 losses.
