Serena Williams Registers for Drug Testing, Sparking Talk of a Potential Comeback
Serena Williams just made her first official move toward a potential return to professional tennis - and it’s a big one. The 23-time Grand Slam champion has registered with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), a necessary step for any player eyeing a comeback. While this doesn’t guarantee she’ll be back on the court anytime soon, it does open the door.
To compete again, Williams would need to undergo regular drug testing for six months, in line with ITIA protocols. That means providing detailed whereabouts information and being available for out-of-competition testing - a commitment that signals she’s at least considering a return to the tour.
It’s been over three years since Serena last played competitively, making her emotional farewell at the 2022 US Open. But even then, she avoided using the word “retirement,” instead saying she was “evolving” away from the sport. That choice of words always left the door slightly ajar - and now, it seems she might be ready to walk through it.
At 44, Serena would be returning to a tour that has changed in some ways - but in others, not so much. Her older sister, Venus Williams, made her own return earlier this year at age 45 after nearly two years away from competition. Like Serena, Venus never formally retired, and at this year’s US Open, she became the oldest player to compete in singles at a Grand Slam since 1981.
The Williams sisters have always done things their way. Together, they claimed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and reshaped the landscape of tennis - not just with their dominance, but with their presence, style, and unapologetic individuality. Venus has openly said she’d love to see Serena back on tour, and there’s no doubt the sport would welcome her return with open arms.
But Serena’s impact goes far beyond the stat sheets and trophy cases. In a recent interview with Porter magazine, she reflected on how much the conversation around Black women in sports has shifted since she first broke onto the scene.
“Growing up and being Black in tennis, it’s just like, well, that comes with negativity,” she said. “I don’t hear the noise. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.”
That “noise” included harsh criticism, coded language, and outright racial bias - things Serena and Venus endured for years as they climbed to the top of a sport that hadn’t made much room for people who looked like them. But Serena sees progress.
“No one’s calling these girls the things I was called,” she said. “People would say we were like men and all this other stuff.
But I’m so happy that girls nowadays don’t have to go through it as much.”
It’s a powerful statement from someone who lived through the worst of it and still came out the other side as one of the most decorated athletes in history. Over her 27-year career, Serena played 1,011 matches on the WTA Tour, going toe-to-toe with opponents born in every year from 1966 to 2003. That’s not just longevity - that’s generational dominance.
But even for someone who’s won just about everything there is to win, stepping away from the game hasn’t been easy.
“No matter how prepared you are to retire - and particularly from doing something every day at such a high level - it’s hard,” she admitted. “I really prepped myself the best way I could, but it’s still something that’s a little difficult.”
Now, she’s focused on rediscovering herself outside the lines. “I want to bring in more clarity, confidence that I made the right decisions and that you don’t always have to live only for your children. I’m discovering me again.”
Whether this move toward drug testing leads to a full-on return or not, one thing’s clear: Serena Williams is still evolving. And if she does decide to lace up her sneakers and step back onto the court, the tennis world - and frankly, the sports world - will be watching.