Naomi Osaka Speaks on the Possibility of Serena Williams Returning to Tennis

Serena Williams generated a lot of buzz last year regarding a possible comeback to professional tennis. Last December, Williams’ name appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) anti-doping testing pool list, and in February, her name appeared as reinstated on the ITIA website, the first time since retiring from tennis in 2022.

In doing so, she is officially eligible to return to play in the WTA tour and Grand Slams. However, there has been no official confirmation from her side about returning to tour. Several tennis stars have weighed in on this possibility, including four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.

During the Roland Garros press conference following her first-round win against Laura Siegemund, Osaka shared her thoughts about the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s potential return. Osaka, who is known for her interest in fashion, also shared her excitement about Williams’ outfits. The two iconic tennis champions played each other four times between 2018 and 2021, including the 2018 US Open final, which Osaka won in straight sets.

For me that’s definitely something I would be really excited about, just to see her around the sites and playing matches again, I think, is really cool for tennis. And yeah, I would be excited to see her outfits again too. But also her playing, I think she’s one of the best players in the world of course.

Naomi Osaka on the possibility of Serena Williams returning to tennis:

“For me that’s definitely something I would be really excited about, just to see her around the sites and playing matches again, I think, is really cool for tennis. And yeah, I would be excited to see her… pic.twitter.com/CyQDXtawzx

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 26, 2026

Williams retired from the sport at the age of 40 after her final match at the 2022 US Open, where she lost in the third round to Ajla Tomljanovic. Her elder sister, Venus Williams, is still on tour, and many people are speculating about a doubles partnership between the sisters.

Naomi Osaka’s Roland Garros outfit leaves first-round opponent Laura Siegemund unimpressed

Not every person is interested in fashion, and Laura Siegemund seems to be one of them. Her opponent, Naomi Osaka, wore a sparkling brown and gold ‌dress at Roland Garros and said that she felt like the Eiffel Tower in the outfit.

Osaka defeated Siegemund in straight sets to set up a second-round encounter against Donna Vekic. After her defeat, the German spoke to TNT Sports, remarking that she “couldn’t care less” about Osaka’s fashion choice and also alleged that Osaka received preferential treatment from the tournament organizers.

I couldn’t care less. I come here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show. And if others want to put on a fashion show, then they should go ahead and do it. That’s totally fine with me. I find something else problematic. In our sport, at every tournament they count every second, right up until you’ve unpacked your water bottle. But she can have a minute and a half to change. I have a problem with that, because these rules simply exist and they are what they are…

Earlier this year at the Australian Open, Osaka walked on wearing a jellyfish-themed dress with a veil and holding a white parasol. At last year’s US Open, she had sparkly red roses in her ponytail above her red dress and even a custom-made sparkling Labubu. Her fashion choices have been praised by many but also criticized by many, too.

READ more here: Aryna Sabalenka Loves Naomi Osaka’s Sparkling Eiffel Tower Roland Garros Outfit: “I Will Also Come Up with Something Cool”