Tennis icon Jim Courier has expressed absolute certainty that Serena Williams is secretly preparing for a dramatic return to professional tennis, despite recent public denials from the 23-time Grand Slam champion herself.
Whereabouts Programme Fuels Comeback Speculation
Speculation surrounding Williams' potential return has intensified significantly after her name was discovered on the Registered Testing Pool (RTP), the official anti-doping monitoring system for professional athletes. The 44-year-old tennis legend has rejoined the Whereabouts programme, which requires participants to provide their precise location for one designated hour each day, enabling drug testers to conduct unannounced sample collections at any time.
Courier's Unwavering Conviction
Speaking to Wide World of Sports, Courier left no room for doubt about his interpretation of these developments. 'No person without intentions to play professional tennis is going to put themselves on that list,' the former world number one stated emphatically. 'I think unless she gets injured, there is no doubt she is going to play somewhere at some point.'
Courier speculated about various possible formats for Williams' return, suggesting it could involve mixed doubles at the US Open, doubles with her sister Venus, or even singles competition, though he acknowledged only Williams herself knows her exact plans.
Williams' Recent History and Denials
Williams, widely regarded as the greatest women's tennis player of all time, last competed at the 2022 US Open, where she was defeated by Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic. Since then, she has consistently downplayed suggestions of a comeback.
In December, Williams directly contradicted a report from prominent tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, posting on social media platform X: 'Omg y'all I'm NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.'
Physical Transformation and Career Reflections
The tennis champion has undergone a noticeable physical transformation, having lost approximately 13 kilograms with assistance from the GLP-1 weight-loss medication Zepbound. It's important to note that GLP-1 drugs are not prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and do not appear on the 2026 list of banned substances for athletes.
In a recent interview with Net-A-Porter, Williams offered revealing insights about the intense scrutiny she faced throughout her illustrious career. 'In tennis you can't really be yourself, which sounds weird, but you have to keep a veil up, you can't be too vulnerable,' she explained.
When questioned about whether she misses competitive tennis, Williams responded: 'Not as much as I have previously. No matter how prepared you are to retire, and particularly from doing something every day at such a high level for so many years, it's hard. I really prepped myself the best way I could, but it's something that's still a little difficult.'
A Legendary Career
Williams began her professional journey in 1995 and claimed her first Grand Slam title at the US Open just four years later. Throughout her remarkable career, she accumulated nearly $95 million in prize money, establishing the highest career earnings record for any female tennis player in history.
The conflicting signals between Williams' public statements and her administrative actions within tennis's anti-doping framework have created compelling intrigue about her future in the sport, with Courier's authoritative perspective adding substantial weight to the comeback speculation.
