Serena Williams Officially Reinstated as Active Tennis Player

The 23-time Grand Slam champion is set to make a comeback after a four-year hiatus.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 9:19pm

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Serena Williams has officially been reinstated as an active tennis player by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after being out of competition since the 2022 US Open. The 44-year-old legend has been added to the ITIA testing pool, indicating her desire to return to the professional tour. While the timing of her comeback is still unclear, her former coach Rick Macci believes she will likely return at either the Indian Wells or Miami tournaments.

Why it matters

Serena Williams' return to tennis would be a major event in the sport, as she is considered one of the greatest players of all time with 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Her comeback would generate significant interest and attention, potentially boosting viewership and ticket sales for the tournaments she chooses to play.

The details

Williams last played professionally at the 2022 US Open, where she beat Danka Kovinic and Anett Kontaveit before losing to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round. She also played a doubles match with her sister Venus, but the duo lost in the first round. After that tournament, Williams took a four-year hiatus from the sport. In December 2025, she requested to be added to the ITIA testing pool, a necessary step for any player who wants to compete on the ATP and WTA Tours and at Grand Slams. Now, on February 22nd, 2026, Williams has officially been reinstated by the ITIA, meaning she has been available for out-of-competition testing for at least six months and likely underwent doping tests as well.

  • Serena Williams last played professionally at the 2022 US Open.
  • In December 2025, Williams requested to be added to the ITIA testing pool.
  • On February 22nd, 2026, Williams was officially reinstated by the ITIA.

The players

Serena Williams

A 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Venus Williams

Serena's sister and fellow tennis legend, who has also been active in 2026 playing singles and doubles matches.

Rick Macci

Serena Williams' former coach, who believes her return to tennis is certain and that she will likely make her comeback at either the Indian Wells or Miami tournaments.

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What they’re saying

“Serena is going to come back, it's certain. She hasn't lost the itch. She's a competitor. You don't just turn that off after twenty-five years. he's practicing with men. The biomechanics are there. The serve is the last thing to go, and hers is the best we've ever seen. I see her returning at Indian Wells or Miami.”

— Rick Macci, Serena Williams' former coach

What’s next

The timing of Serena Williams' official return to professional tennis is still unclear, but her former coach Rick Macci believes she will likely make her comeback at either the Indian Wells or Miami tournaments.

The takeaway

Serena Williams' reinstatement as an active tennis player after a four-year hiatus is a highly anticipated event in the sport. Her return would generate significant interest and attention, potentially boosting viewership and ticket sales for the tournaments she chooses to play. As one of the greatest players of all time, her comeback would be a major milestone in her legendary career.