Serena Williams, widely regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players in history, has returned to the sport after a four-year hiatus. Throughout her career, she amassed 39 Grand Slam titles across women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles from 1999 to 2017. Following her retirement speculation during the 2022 US Open, where she played her final singles match, she has made a comeback with a new playing style.
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During the 2022 US Open, Williams played doubles with her sister Venus, marking their first match together since 2018. However, they were defeated in the first round by Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova. In singles, Williams won her opening match against Danka Kovinic before being eliminated by Ajla Tomljanovic in a closely contested third-round match. Instead of a formal retirement announcement, Williams expressed in a Vogue essay her intent to “evolve away from tennis.”
In 2026, Williams returned to competition, teaming up with Victoria Mboko for women’s doubles at the Queen’s Club Championship, where they won their first match against the third-seeded pair before withdrawing due to Mboko’s knee injury. Observers noted that despite diminished speed, Williams retained her powerful serve and sound technique.
She later partnered with Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Tennis Open, where they lost to Erin Routliffe and Guiliana Olmos. Following this, Williams returned to singles at Wimbledon, receiving a wildcard but losing to WTA No. 87 Maya Joint in a challenging three-set match.
At Wimbledon, Williams also received a wildcard to compete in women’s doubles with Venus. However, they had to withdraw from their first match due to an injury Williams sustained in her singles match. The sisters later entered the Cincinnati Open and US Open but were eliminated in the first rounds of both tournaments, despite showcasing strong chemistry.
Williams also participated in mixed doubles at the 2026 US Open alongside Carlos Alcaraz. They won their opening match before losing in the quarterfinals. Despite the outcomes, Williams demonstrated her classic technique and power on the court during these matches.
At the Forbes Power Women's Summit, Williams stated that her return to competitive play is not a long-term commitment but instead an opportunity for enjoyment and to set an example for her daughters.