Serena Williams Returns to Tennis: A Look at Her Journey Since Retirement

Tennis enthusiasts are in for a treat as Serena Williams makes her much-anticipated return to the sport, participating in both the HSBC Championships and the Berlin Tennis Open. After stepping away from competitive play for over three years, Williams, who has a storied history in tennis, is set to re-enter the arena. Her illustrious career began with her first major victory in 1999, though she faced challenges in recent years, finishing the 2021 season ranked No. 41 after starting at No. 7.

At 44 years old, Williams last competed in 2022 when she was 40. Her retirement came after the U.S. Open that year, where she announced it would be her final tournament. Williams was eliminated in the third round by Ajla Tomljanovic, who praised her as "the greatest of all time. Period." Following the match, Williams expressed her deep appreciation for her supporters, stating, "It's been a fun ride, it's been the most incredible ride and journey I've ever been on in my life."

Williams stepped back from tennis to devote time to her family; at that time, her first daughter was just five years old. In August 2023, she welcomed her second child and has since had ample time to recharge. Notably, Williams has expressed her reluctance to label her departure from tennis as retirement, preferring the term "evolution." As she shared with Vogue in 2022, "I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me."

Since her exit from the sport, Williams has pursued various ventures. In addition to her family life, she has focused on her health and wellness, losing 31 pounds through the use of GLP-1 medication, and has become a spokesperson for the brand. Williams is also busy with her investment firm, Serena Ventures, which she founded in 2014, along with a beauty line called Wyn Beauty and a production company named Nine Two Six.

For context, the record for the oldest woman to win a professional tennis match is held by Martina Navratilova, who achieved this at Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of 47. Interestingly, Williams' sister, Venus, is the second-oldest, winning a match at the WTA's DC Open in July 2025 at 45 years old.