Serena Williams’ former coach, Rick Macci, has suggested that the 23-time Grand Slam champion may be preparing for a return to professional tennis, saying the 44-year-old has stepped up her training in recent months.
Williams, who last claimed a Grand Slam singles title in 2017 and has not played competitively since the US Open in 2022, became eligible to compete again after re-entering the sport’s anti-doping testing pool last year.
Although she has publicly played down talk of a comeback, she fueled speculation during a recent appearance on Today, where she stopped short of ruling out a return to the tour.
In an interview with French outlet L’Equipe, Macci—who coached Serena and her sister Venus in the early 1990s—said he believes she is seriously preparing for competition. He revealed that Williams has been training intensely with multiple sparring partners, including male players, and has also practised with fellow American Alycia Parks in South Florida.
Macci admitted he initially thought Williams might return occasionally for doubles events alongside Venus, but now feels she could be aiming for a full comeback.
“If she didn’t think she could compete with the best and win, she wouldn’t be doing this,” he said, adding that he has no doubts about her physical capacity to handle the demands of the tour. According to him, her competitive mindset will be the deciding factor.
Williams previously said in August 2022 that she was “evolving away from tennis,” and her representatives have not commented on the renewed speculation.
Macci suggested that tournaments such as the Indian Wells Open or the Miami Open could provide a stage for her return, noting that competing consistently over consecutive days would ultimately determine her readiness.