Roger Federer and Serena Williams are two of the greatest players to ever play professional tennis.
They hold a combined 43 Grand Slam singles titles and they produced levels of dominance very few players throughout history can match.
The all-star duo left a gaping hole not only in tennis but in sport as a whole when they decided to hang up their rackets in 2022.
But despite both players being in their forties, Roger Federer and Serena Williams’ passion for the game and desire to be on court still burns bright.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesCanadian Open tournament director Karl Hale thinks Serena Williams could play tennis again
Williams’ last tennis match came on home soil at the 2022 US Open.
She won her first two matches of the campaign against Danka Kovinić and Anett Kontaveit, before losing to Alja Tomljanović in round three.
Williams made a tearful exit from Arthur Ashe Stadium, but during the three years since her last match, there has always been a question of whether Williams could step back on court.
Canadian Open tournament director Karl Hale seems to think Williams will make a comeback, at least on the doubles court, especially after watching her last training videos.
“She looks amazing. She looks the fittest that I have ever seen her. It’s incredible,” Hale told The Slice Tennis podcast.
Host J.P. Honey said: “Her and Venus for sure are going to play one more doubles match,” before Hale added: “I agree with you. I think there is a very strong chance they could play doubles.”
Photo by Chaz Niell/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesCanadian Open tournament director Karl Hale shares what he heard about Roger Federer and compared him to Rafael Nadal
Federer played his last match of his illustrious tennis career at the 2022 Laver Cup.
In a doubles match alongside his great friend and rival Rafael Nadal, they lost 6-4, 6-7, 9-11, which was followed by an emotional send-off for Federer.
Three years later, Hale shares that Federer still misses the game, while that is not so much the case for Nadal, who retired at the Davis Cup finals in November 2024.
“I mean, I think for these athletes… I heard for example Federer, I heard he really misses the game,” Hale said. “I have heard he is really missing it. But Rafa not so much. Rafa is fine.”