Serena Williams drove intrigue among fans and former players after her cryptic post on Friday night. It was a selfie with her blonde curls coming through nicely in the picture.
In the caption, Williams hinted at something special this summer, writing:
“I’m getting ready for a Serena summer #summerofserena”
While the 23-time Grand Slam champion didn’t say a word about tennis or a potential comeback, every little thing is getting tied to her potential comeback. And it’s not only fans but fellow former tennis players, too.
Under the comments section, five-time Grand Slam champion and former rival of Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, asked if she was planning to comeback in Wimbledon.
“Wimbledon? 😉😉😉” she asked.
However, Williams was quick to shut down any potential return rumors. She replied:
“@mariasharapova lol no love hahahah”
Williams’ last professional match was in the third round of the US Open. She was defeated by Ajla Tomljanovic in a three-set battle, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-1, at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 2, 2022.
Despite staying away from professional tennis, Williams has returned to the court to practice and teach her two daughters. However, as far as professional tennis is concerned, she is yet to return. However, her sister, Venus Williams, did return after 16 months in DC Open.
What Ignited Serena Williams’ Return Rumors?
These potential comeback rumors concerning Serena Williams have been going on since her name appeared in the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s registered testing pool. If any player wants to be eligible to compete professionally again, then they are required to enter this testing pool.
This immediately set off speculations that she might return to tennis as her sister did. But Williams turned them down; she was not returning:
“Omg y’all I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Another reason for rumors to set off was after her appearance on NBC’s Today show, where she was vague and non-committal when asked about a comeback. She didn’t give a firm answer.
Moreover, current WTA player Alycia Parks practiced with Williams and said she was in “great shape.”
“I actually practiced with her last Monday. And I messaged her yesterday. She’s definitely a good mentor to me and she’s helped me a lot, especially in my practices,” the 25-year-old American said via Tennis Upto Date. “She is in great shape. So I think she would kill it on tour.”
So while there’s reason for fans to be excited for a potential Williams comeback, so far, what Williams has provided suggests it appears unlikely that she’ll be returning to professional tennis.
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