Is Serena really making a comeback? She herself has stepped forward to deny it: "I am not coming back!"

At 44, Serena Williams has once again drawn attention in tennis this off-season. Her name was clearly listed on the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) anti-doping testing roster. By rule, players need to be on this list to participate in tournaments, a requirement for any athlete planning a comeback. Several foreign media outlets have reported that the 23-time Grand Slam champion might be preparing to re-enter the professional tennis scene.

Serena Williams at the 2022 US Open

Serena Williams last competed officially at the 2022 US Open, where she was defeated in the third round by Australian player Tomljanovic. Just one day later, on September 3, 2022, she formally applied for retirement with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). This meant she no longer needed to provide daily whereabouts information for random drug testing.

Serena denies comeback rumors on her personal social media

In the early hours today Beijing time, Serena Williams personally took to social media to dispel the rumors, firmly denying any comeback: "Oh my god, I am not coming back. This has gotten way out of hand."

Even after being away from professional tennis for three years, every appearance by Serena Williams sparks widespread discussion. During this time away from the court, the mother of two daughters (Olympia born in 2017, Adira born in 2023) has shifted her focus toward her expanding business empire.

Additionally, Serena made a surprise appearance at the 59th Super Bowl halftime show this February, joining famous artist Kendrick Lamar’s performance as a dancer to his song "Not Like Us." Her energetic dance clips quickly went viral online. Currently ranked world No. 3, Coco Gauff also expressed her support for Serena on social media: "Serena is amazing..."

In August this year, Serena made a surprise appearance at the International Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremony for her longtime rival Maria Sharapova. Serena appeared as Sharapova’s introducer and delivered a speech at the event. The presence of these two top female tennis stars together once again created an unforgettable moment for fans worldwide.

(Text and editing by Wang Fei; photos courtesy of Visual China and players’ social media)