Serena Williams makes major confession about potential tennis comeback at US Open 2024
Serena Williams retired from professional tennis in 2022 after losing her third-round match at the US Open to Ajla Tomljanovic. However, she hinted at the possibility of returning to the sport. The former World No. 1 was recently in attendance at the ongoing 2024 US Open and talked about potentially coming back.
Williams was at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, September 1, and took in all the action that unfolded at the iconic venue. It marked her first appearance at the prestigious hardcourt Major as a spectator, and during the all-American fourth-round clash between Coco Gauff and Emma Navarro, the 23-time singles Major winner was asked about her thoughts on a potential return to professional tennis.
Williams said in response that she had started hitting again. The former World No. 1 also expressed her love for tennis but was uncertain about playing professionally despite admitting a desire for "competition" in her life.
"Yeah I was hitting, right? You know what? I love this sport. I love the game. I definitely want to play. I don't know about playing professionally, but I need some competition in my life, you know?" Williams told ESPN.
Williams added that she is yet to decide on the "competition" but was unsure of returning on a professional level. Since retiring, Williams has established herself as a successful entrepreneur.
"I haven't decided what that competition is, but I just picked up the racket, just because I love this sport, but on a professional level, I'm not sure if I can do that right now," Williams added.
Williams is tied with another former World No. 1 Chris Evert in terms of most US Open titles won in the Open Era across both men's and women's tennis.
Serena Williams won six US Open singles titles over the course of her illustrious career
The first of Williams' six US Open women's singles titles came in 1999 after she defeated Martina Hingis in the final. At the time, Williams was only 17 years old and became only the second Black woman to win a Major, following in the footsteps of the legendary Althea Gibson.
Williams' next two US Open title triumphs came in 2002 and 2008 after her wins over sister Venus and Jelena Jankovic in the respective finals. Her fourth, fifth and sixth titles came in succession from 2012 to 2014, and to this day, she remains the last player across both men's and women's tennis to successfully defend a singles title at Flushing Meadows since Roger Federer in 2008.
The 23-time Major winner also finished as the runner-up at the US Open at the event's 2001, 2011, 2018 and 2019 editions.