The International Tennis Integrity Agency has officially reinstated Serena Williams as an active player, removing her from the retired list on February 22, 2026. This move follows her rejoining the anti-doping testing pool last year, making her eligible for tournaments. Her former coach Rick Macci expressed certainty about a comeback, citing her intensive training.
Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion, has been reinstated as an active tennis player by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The agency confirmed on February 22, 2026, that the 44-year-old American is no longer listed among retired players, a development noted by tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg as the "Happy Serena Williams Reinstatement Day."
Williams last competed at the 2022 US Open, where she won her first two matches before losing in the third round to Ajla Tomljanovic. She also played doubles with her sister Venus Williams that year. Since then, she has focused on business and family, stating in August 2022 that she was "evolving away from tennis."
In December, reports emerged that Williams had rejoined the registered drug-testing pool, requiring daily whereabouts filings and eligibility for out-of-competition testing. She initially denied a comeback on social media, writing, “I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.” However, during an appearance on NBC's Today show last month, she said, “I don’t know; I’m just going to see what happens,” without clarifying her status.
The reinstatement aligns with her application last August to play the 2025 US Open, which was not permitted at the time. Recent activity, including a TikTok video of her practicing serves and an Instagram post about a “Serena summer,” has fueled speculation. Her reinstatement now makes her eligible for events like the upcoming ATP-WTA 1000 tournament at Indian Wells, where Venus Williams has received a wildcard for doubles with Leylah Fernandez.
Williams' former coach Rick Macci, who trained her and Venus in the early 1990s, told L'Équipe that she is “going all out” in training with sparring partners, including playing with Alycia Parks in South Florida. “It’s 100 per cent certain she’ll dive back into competition,” Macci said, suggesting Indian Wells or the Miami Open as possible starting points. He added that her competitive spirit remains strong.
Other figures in tennis have weighed in. Alycia Parks, who practiced with Williams, said, “She is in great shape. So I think she would kill it on tour.” Patrick Mouratoglou, her former coach, expressed hope for a 2026 return based on training clips. However, former hitting partner Sascha Bajin cautioned about the challenges of tournament intensity after years away, and Greg Rusedski questioned her match sharpness.
Williams' team has not commented on the potential comeback. The tennis world awaits clarity on her plans, with some speculating about a singles return for a 24th major or doubles with Venus.
