Maria Sharapova Wonders If Serena Williams Will Make Tennis Comeback at Wimbledon

Serena Williams entered ITIA's drug testing pool and has also lost weight using the GLP-1 drug.

Maria Sharapova Wonders If Serena Williams Will Make Tennis Comeback at Wimbledon

Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams (Image via X/International Tennis Hall of Fame)

In Short
  • Maria Sharapova expressed curiosity about Serena Williams' potential comeback at Wimbledon.
  • Serena Williams is eligible to compete in WTA tournaments starting February 22 after entering the ITIA testing pool.
  • Greg Rusedski commented on Williams' possible return, highlighting the competitive state of the current WTA Tour.

Serena Williams is getting ready for a ‘Serena summer,’ and this piqued Maria Sharapova‘s curiosity, just like many from the tennis world, about whether the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion would be making her comeback to tennis.

Last August, Williams entered the testing pool of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), and this sparked comeback rumors because retired players are only eligible to compete after entering the testing pool six months prior to their comeback. Williams is eligible to play WTA-sanctioned tournaments from February 22.

And on February 21st, Williams took to Instagram and posted a selfie with the caption: “I am getting ready for a Serena summer“. Sharapova asked, “Wimbledon?” in the comment section.

Williams lifted the Wimbledon singles titles seven times, last winning it in 2016 by defeating Angelique Kerber. She also reached the finals four more times, most recently in 2019, losing the title to Simona Halep.

Sharapova, who hung up her racket in 2022, attended the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The Russian retired WTA ace clinched the silver medal after a straight-set defeat to Williams in her only Olympic appearance at the 2012 London Games.

Williams and Sharapova met 22 times. Even though they were fierce rivals on the court, Sharapova defeated Williams only a couple of times, including in their penultimate meeting in the fourth round of the 2018 Roland Garros.

Greg Rusedski makes his feelings known on Serena Williams’ potential comeback

Apart from the ITIA drug testing pool, Serena Williams, during an interview this year, refused to answer questions about her possible comeback. She has also been using Ro’s GLP-1 weight-loss drug.

Serena Williams
Serena Williams (Image via X/VeeStar)

And former ATP World No.1 Andy Roddick, in an interview, said he would have used the drug to lose weight if he intended to make his return to the tour. Now, another former ATP player, Greg Rusedski, has reacted to the rumors of Williams’ potential return. He said on his Off Court with Greg podcast:

I’m still shocked by it. Any time a great champion wants to come back, it’s great for our sport, especially with what Serena accomplished. She looks in great shape. The question is, how’s the tennis game, and how’s the movement? You’ve got to look at the WTA Tour at the moment, [Victoria] Mboko. She’s playing great tennis right now. [Elena] Rybakina winning the Australian Open, and [Aryna] Sabalenka. They’re playing some fierce tennis right now.

Williams called time on her career at the 2022 US Open after defeat in the third round. The last time she won a Major was at the 2017 Australian Open, defeating her sister, seven-time Major singles champion Venus Williams, who is still competing on the tour.

So, with the comeback, it’ll be interesting if she comes in singles. She’s only going to come back if she feels like she can beat them. That is the question mark for me. I’m sure she’s going to come back and at least play doubles, but I would love to see what happens in singles, and everybody is intrigued. So singles, fascinating. Reality, I think, possibly doubles.

Greg Rusedski added

Many believe Williams, if indeed she returns, would be teaming up with Venus in doubles (they won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together). This season, Venus has so far competed in three singles events, losing in all in the opening round, including at the Australian Open, where Olga Danilovic knocked her out in three sets.

The 45-year-old is next set to feature at the ATX Open, where she will kick off her campaign against Ajla Tomljanovic. Venus and Peyton Stearns have teamed up for doubles and will lock horns with first seeds Taylor Townsend and Storm Hunter in the first round.

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