Overview
- The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed Williams is back in its International Registered Testing Pool, which requires daily whereabouts and no-notice testing.
- Williams rejected speculation of a return, posting on X: "Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy."
- Under ITIA/WADA rules, reinstated players must be available for out-of-competition testing for six months before entering sanctioned events, placing the earliest potential eligibility around April 2026 based on an October 6 listing.
- She has not played since the 2022 U.S. Open and previously said she was “evolving” away from tennis rather than retiring, and she remains on the ITIA website’s retired players list.
- No entries or schedule have been filed, and while the USTA said it would welcome her if she chooses to return, there has been no clarification from her camp about rejoining the pool.