Serena Williams, the legendary 23-time Grand Slam champion, has taken a crucial step towards potentially returning to professional tennis in 2026 by re-entering the sport's anti-doping testing pool. Williams, who last competed at the 2022 U.S. Open and has not played since, informed the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) of her wish to rejoin the testing pool, which includes top players and those returning from long breaks. Her name appears on an updated list dated October 6, 2025. Re-entering the pool requires athletes to be subject to out-of-competition testing for six months before competing again. While her exact plans remain unclear, the most likely venue for her comeback would be the U.S. Open mixed doubles, where she has historically excelled. Williams has not officially announced her return but has taken the necessary steps to keep her options open. Her sister, Venus Williams, recently returned to competition at age 45, fueling speculation about a possible Serena comeback. The move has garnered attention from the tennis community and fans eager for her potential return to the sport.