Sabalenka gives views on Serena Williams’ possible shock return to tennis
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Serena Williams is “going all out” ahead of what could be a stunning return to tennis, according to her former coach Rick Macci.
Williams, now 44, has not played professionally since 2022 and won her latest Grand Slam title in 2017.
However, rumours of a possible return to action began to circulate when she re-entered tennis’ anti-doping testing pool in December last year, seen as the first step needed by a player looking to come out of retirement.
And Macci – who coached Williams in the early 1990s – says he is “100% certain” that the 23-time Grand Slam winner is preparing for a comeback.
“She’s training with lots of sparring partners – guys,” Macci told L’Equipe, per Reuters. “She’s also played with Alycia Parks, a good friend of hers in South Florida. So I have no doubt about it [her comeback]. I always thought she would come back from time to time to make appearances with Venus [her sister] in doubles.
“But we’re not just talking about doubles here … she’s going all out. If she didn’t think she could compete with the best and win matches, she wouldn’t do it. It’s 100% certain she’ll dive back into competition.”
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Although in December she denied she was looking to make a return to tennis, she has given much more lukewarm statements since.”I’m just having fun and enjoying my life right now,” Williams said on the ‘Today’ show last month.
Asked whether that was a yes or no to a return, she replied: “That’s not a yes or a no. I don’t know, I’m just going to see what happens.”
Williams was then asked why she had re-entered the drug-testing programme.
She said: “Did I re-enter? I didn’t know if I was out. Listen, I can’t discuss this.”
When Williams stepped away from tennis in 2022, she did not use the word “retiring” and instead preferred to say she was “evolving” away from tennis.
And if Williams did return, Macci thinks she would have no issues competing at the highest level again.
“The question is whether that competitive spirit is still there,” he added. “She’s answering that question herself: she’s coming back because she is a competitor at heart.”
According to Macci, the North American spell of tournaments in the next few weeks could be when Williams decides to step back into the fray.
“It’ll be interesting to see how fit she is,” he said. “Making an appearance, playing an exhibition match or a match is one thing. Doing it again the next day and the day after that, and performing well day after day is another.”
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