The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed to Reuters that Williams, who has not played since the 2022 US Open, was listed among the athletes in its testing pool, which obliges players to report their location daily and submit to random testing at any time.

However, as news of 44-year-old Williams being included in the pool, initially reported earlier Tuesday by The Athletic, spread and fueled speculation about a possible return, the tennis legend took to social media to refute any comeback intentions.

"Oh my god, everyone, I am NOT coming back. This rumor is wild," Williams posted on X.

Her representative did not immediately reply to Reuters’ inquiry regarding the reason for her re-entry into the testing pool.

Williams’ name is listed on the ITIA website under retired players, and she could compete again in an official event after being available for out-of-competition testing for at least six months.

Last week, the former world number one shared several photos on Instagram showing her on a tennis court with her youngest daughter, Adira River, born in August 2023.

In August 2022, before her final US Open, Williams revealed in a Vogue interview that she was "transitioning away from tennis."

Williams, who secured her last Grand Slam singles title in 2017, had been pursuing a 24th major win to tie the record held by Australian Margaret Court.

The American came very close to that milestone, reaching four major finals since the birth of her first daughter, Olympia, in 2017.