The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is reportedly preparing to compete in the doubles event at the WTA 500 tournament scheduled to begin on June 8, sparking excitement among tennis fans worldwide ahead of the grass-court season and Wimbledon.
Although details of the comeback are yet to be officially confirmed, Williams has now fulfilled the mandatory six-month period in the anti-doping testing pool, making her eligible to return to professional tennis.
The American icon would require a wildcard entry to compete at Queen’s Club, with tournament organisers understood to have two doubles wildcards available for allocation.
Reports from the Served podcast, hosted by former world number one Andy Roddick, suggested that Williams could team up with 19-year-old Canadian rising star Victoria Mboko for the event. However, the pairing has not yet been officially confirmed.
Reacting to the speculation after her French Open second-round victory, Mboko remained cautious but supportive of the reports.
“If she's ready to come back on her own terms then I feel like it's up to her to announce that,” she said, adding that she was “very happy” to hear the rumours.
Williams, now 44, has not played competitively since the 2022 US Open, where she lost to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round in what many believed would be her farewell appearance.
However, the tennis great never fully embraced the idea of retirement, famously stating that she was “evolving away” from the sport rather than permanently stepping aside.
Her possible return would mark one of the most talked-about comebacks in modern tennis history, particularly considering her extraordinary achievements in the sport.
Williams remains one of the greatest female players of all time, having won 23 Grand Slam singles titles — the highest tally in the Open Era and second only to Margaret Court in women’s tennis history.
In doubles, she enjoyed tremendous success alongside her sister Venus Williams, winning 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals together.
While longtime coach Patrick Mouratoglou is not expected to be involved in this latest chapter, Williams is reportedly set to work with her longtime hitting partner Jarmere Jenkins and former doubles star Rennae Stubbs, who briefly coached her during the 2022 US Open.
The potential comeback follows months of public speculation surrounding Williams’ fitness transformation and renewed training regime.
Last year, the tennis icon revealed during an appearance on the Today Show that she had lost 31 pounds over eight months through intense workouts and lifestyle adjustments.
“I had to look at my extra weight as an opponent,” Williams said at the time, explaining that despite “training five hours a day” through running, cycling, stair climbing and other exercises, she still needed to “try something different.”
Williams, who later became a spokesperson for Ro — a healthcare company associated with weight-loss medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound — said she had begun to see significant improvements in her endurance and physical condition.
She also disclosed that she had been training for a half-marathon and was “running farther than I ever had.”
Earlier this year, she further fuelled comeback speculation by admitting in another interview that she was “going to see what happens” regarding a return to professional tennis.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which oversees British grass-court events, traditionally prioritises local players when awarding wildcards. However, officials have hinted that Williams’ unique status could lead to an exception.
LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd previously acknowledged that “exceptional circumstances” could influence wildcard decisions, while performance director Michael Bourne admitted that commercial considerations may also play a role.
Meanwhile, Serena’s elder sister Venus Williams continues to compete occasionally on the WTA Tour. The 45-year-old played seven tournaments this year and reached the US Open women’s doubles quarter-finals last season.
Should Serena officially return, she would join a select group of veteran players who successfully competed at the highest level later in their careers. Martina Navratilova remains the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam singles match in the Open Era, achieving the feat at age 47 in 2004.