Serena Williams has caused a stir in the tennis community by suggesting a potential return to the sport.
The 42-year-old mother of two took to her X handle on Tuesday, hinting at a comeback just nine months after giving birth to her second child.
She posted, “I’m ready to hit some balls again,” @serenawilliams.
Williams, who announced her retirement in 2022 after an illustrious career spanning over a decade, left fans speculating about a return to challenge Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles.
Her cryptic tweet reignited hopes of her stepping back onto the court. The last time Williams competed was at the 2022 US Open, where she was defeated by Ajla Tomljanovic.
Over her career, Williams secured 73 singles titles and earned more than $94 million in prize money, though she fell short of surpassing Court’s record.
Since retiring, Williams has welcomed her second child, Adira River, who will turn one in August, with her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
Prior to her retirement, Williams spoke of transitioning to a new phase in her life, saying, “I have never liked the word retirement… I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word… Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution.”
Williams’ potential return echoes the career path of her sister, Venus Williams, who also took a break from tennis but has returned to compete in WTA tournaments.
Approaching 44, Venus recently participated in the Miami Open, although she was defeated in the first round by Diana Shnaider.
Shortly after her retirement, Williams hinted at a possible comeback, stating, “The chances (of me returning) are very high… You can come to my house and (see). I have a court.”
Her recent comment about being ready to play again has thrilled fans, with one commenting, “Please come back. You have another Grand Slam or two you can win,” and another adding, “Tennis has become boring since you left.”
Reactions poured in, capturing the admiration and anticipation of her loyal followers.
@iAmTjjackson expressed the collective sentiment, writing, “We miss you Queen 👸🏽🎾 #RunItBack.”
@TennisChannel celebrated the news, tweeting, “The news we needed today 🥹.”
Fans like @bmusonza are eager for her return, urging, “Come back home Serena. They have failed to occupy the spot you left. Two, three more grand slams.”
Even casual observers like @ChelseaBoddie found themselves surprised and excited, saying, “I took that in a whole different direction until I realized it was THEE Serena Williams saying it.”
Lastly, @BMutebuka highlighted her iconic status and talent, commenting, “Awesome stuff. Tennis royalty 👑 you are! Your serve alone can take you places. It was a privilege to watch you play!”
