By Prosper Mene
Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion, is reportedly training intensely for a potential comeback to professional tennis, according to her former childhood coach Rick Macci.
Macci, who coached Serena and her sister Venus in the early 1990s and is credited with helping shape their early careers, expressed strong confidence in her return. Speaking to French publication L’รquipe, the 71-year-old coach stated that Serena is “going all out” in her preparations.
“She’s training with lots of sparring partners โ guys,” Macci said. “She’s also played with Alycia Parks, a good friend of hers in South Florida. So I have no doubt about it .”
He emphasized that this goes beyond casual or exhibition play, dismissing the idea of limited appearances in doubles with Venus. “We’re not just talking about doubles here… she’s going all out,” he added. “If she didnโt think she could compete with the best and win matches, she wouldnโt do it. Itโs 100% certain sheโll dive back into competition.”
The news comes as Serena, now 44, became eligible to compete on the WTA Tour again as of February 22, 2026, after re-entering the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s anti-doping testing pool last year, a requirement for retired players seeking reinstatement. She last competed at the 2022 US Open, where she bid an emotional farewell to the sport, describing her shift away from tennis as “evolving” rather than fully retiring.
While Serena has previously denied immediate comeback plans, famously posting “I’m NOT coming back” on social media amid earlier speculation, she has more recently left the door open, telling NBC’s Today show in January that she would “see what happens” without ruling it out.
Macci suggested possible starting points for any return could include upcoming WTA 1000 events like Indian Wells (starting March 4) or the Miami Open, noting the convenience for the Florida-based star.
The tennis world now awaits official word from Serena herself, but Macci’s comments have reignited excitement about a potential chapter in one of the sport’s most legendary caree
