Serena Williams on Tuesday firmly denied rumors that she’s going to return to skilled tennis, after her identify appeared once more on a reinstatement-eligible drug-testing record. The 23-time Grand Slam champion stated the hypothesis was overblown — and she or he has no plans to make a comeback.

Re-entry Sparks Speculation

Reports surfaced earlier Tuesday that Williams had reentered the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) registered testing pool — a required step for any athlete searching for to return to competitors.

That information rapidly triggered widespread discuss amongst followers and media retailers. Some considered it as an indication that Williams could be making ready a return as early as 2026, as soon as athletes within the pool fulfill the six-month whereabouts requirement for anti-doping testing.

Just hours after the preliminary stories, Williams took to social media to close down the rumors. “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy,” she wrote.

Her message was definitive and blunt, providing little room for reinterpretation. She didn’t elaborate on why she rejoined the testing pool.

Williams final competed in 2022 on the US Open, the place she bowed out within the third spherical. At the time, she described her departure as an “evolution” away from the game — fairly than a standard retirement. 

Even and not using a return, her legacy stays untouched. The tennis world continues to treat her as one of many best of all time. Her choice to stay retired, for now, underscores a shift in priorities towards private endeavors, her household, and enterprise ventures past the courtroom.