Serena Williams closes in on Tennis return at 44

Serena Williams  is preparing to return to tennis more than three years after she played what looked to be her final professional tennis match.

The American legend, 44, will be eligible to compete again before the end of February after laying the foundations to come out of retirement.

Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, has been preparing for her comeback by training with fellow American Alycia Parks. It remains uncertain what to expect from the 44 year old, whose last competitive match was in September 2022.

Parks, 25, who progressed through qualifying to reach the main draw at the Qatar Opens offered some insight after sharing a court with one of the best to ever do it.

“I actually practiced with her last Monday. And I messaged her yesterday,” Parks told Tennis Majors in an interview published over the weekend. “She’s definitely a good mentor to me and she’s helped me a lot, especially in my practices. She is in great shape. So I think she would kill it on tour.”

Parks’ insight follows the International Tennis Integrity Agency listing Williams as its most recent ‘reinstated player’. Those seeking to return, whether from retirement or another break, must spend six months in the anti-doping testing pool before being considered for reinstatement for tour events.

Williams’ reinstatement date is shown as February 22. According to Bounces, the date backs up earlier reports that the American submitted her reinstatement application in August last year.