What Serena Williams Last Said About Returning to Tennis—As Venus Williams Sends Heartfelt Plea

Serena Williams and Daughter Olympia Played Tennis Together | Marie Claire

Could the Queen of the Court be preparing for a royal return? The tennis world is buzzing again—and this time, it’s not just about the next Grand Slam or who’s climbing the WTA rankings. No, this is about Serena Williams—arguably the greatest player of all time—and the growing whispers that she might just grace the court once more.

Fueling the latest speculation? None other than her sister and doubles partner-in-crime, Venus Williams. In a recent interview, Venus dropped a heartfelt plea that has fans clutching their pearls and tennis racquets: “I miss having Serena out there. The game misses her. I know she still has that fire.” Yes, that’s Venus—stoic, composed, always measured—publicly nudging her little sister back into the spotlight.

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Serena, now 43, officially stepped away from professional tennis in 2022, saying she was “evolving away from the sport.” But in classic Serena fashion, her words were deliberate, not definitive. “I never say never,” she teased in a recent appearance on a podcast, when asked about returning. “I still hit, I still train… I love the game. But right now, it’s about being a mom and building businesses.”

Still, her last few comments have fans reading between the lines. “You never know what the future holds,” Serena added cryptically last month. Combine that with Venus’ open invitation, and suddenly it doesn’t seem impossible.

Social media went into overdrive. “Imagine a Serena wildcard at the US Open,” one fan tweeted. Another wrote, “Venus is all of us—begging the GOAT to give us one last match.”

Let’s be honest: the WTA without Serena hits differently. Her power, her presence, her outfits—remember that diamond-encrusted Nike kit?—they all left an undeniable void. With the sport now brimming with young talent like Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Aryna Sabalenka, a Serena return would not only draw crowds but ignite generational matchups the sport dreams of.

Is it likely? That’s hard to say. Serena has nothing left to prove—23 Grand Slam titles, four Olympic golds, and a cultural impact beyond tennis. But as Venus continues to gently campaign for her sister’s return, and Serena continues to speak in tantalizing maybes, hope lingers.

Until then, the world watches, rackets ready, center court reserved. Because when it comes to Serena Williams, we’ve all learned one thing: don’t count her out until the final point is played.