Serena Williams refuses to rule out tennis comeback two months after firm denial
Rejoining the pool means Williams, 44, is subjecting herself to tennis’ whereabouts rules, which entails accepting the possibility of random drug testing, and remaining in a certain place for an hour a day. In response, she wrote on X December 3: “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
But appearing on the “Today” show Wednesday, Williams was again asked if she was planning a comeback to the sport she dominated for almost two decades. On this occasion, she gave a series of non-committal responses.
“I mean, really? Are you asking this on the Today show? Oh my goodness,” Williams said, glancing around the studio. When pushed on whether that meant the answer was no, she laughed and said: “Now people on set are laughing. It’s distracting. I’m just having fun and enjoying my life right now.”
Is that a yes or no, asked “Today” host Savannah Guthrie. “I don’t know, I’m just going to see what happens.”
“It’s not a maybe,” Williams said when Guthrie replied “that’s a maybe to me.”
Williams added that she has two kids (Alexis Olympia, 8 and Adira River, 3) and recently called herself a stay-at-home mom and housewife as her occupation when filling out a form. Asked about the reentering the testing pool, Williams said: “Did I reenter? I don’t know if I was out. Listen, I can’t discuss this,” she said, laughing.
Told that if she wanted to put the rumors to bed this would be a good time to do so, Williams said: “If I want to put it to bed … Listen, I want to go to bed — it’s early.”
Representatives for Williams were not immediately available for comment.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion appears to have softened her position on the prospect since last December.
www.nytimes.com
Go Serena!!