Confirmation that Williams had added her name back to the anti-doping list that she would need to be on to return to tennis sent shivers of excitement through the sport.
She may be a 44-year-old mother of two, but Williams is a sporting icon who may still be the biggest name in women’s tennis some four years after she hit her final ball in anger.
The notion that she could return to the court and challenge players who could easily be her daughters may seem fanciful, but this is no ordinary sporting superstar.
This is a legend who only needs one name to identify herself and like Tiger, LeBron, Roger and Novak, you should never write off the ultimate icons of sport.
If Williams is going to make a return to tennis, two venues spring to mind as likely destinations and one of them will be on the tennis horizon very soon.
Social media rumours emanating from America suggest a decision will soon be made on where Williams will return and it would not be a surprise if the announcement came soon.
Wimbledon has long been a cherished venue for seven-time singles champion Williams, with her desire to play at the All England Club seeing her battle through the pain barrier at times to get onto the historic Centre Court.
Her last appearance came back in 2022, as she lost against Harmony Tan on a night when she was clearly hampered by an injury problem.
A few weeks later, the US Open crowd were waving farewell to Serena in an extended leaving party that captured headlines around the world.
So if we are to see Williams make a return to tennis in 2026, Wimbledon or the US Open seem to be obvious targets and the first of those will be on her mind next month.
There has been little or no news about if an when Williams will return, but she would be expected to play in a warm-up event before taking to the court again and if the super fit version of Serena we have seen in her public appearances is any gauge, she could be a real threat when she gets back on court.
