Serena Williams, 44, in doping test pool, sparks return talk - ESPN

Serena Williams has reentered the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) registered testing pool, potentially clearing the way for a return to the sport.

The 44-year-old Williams, a 23-time major champion and widely considered the greatest women's player in the sport's history, retired from tennis in 2022 following the US Open. She has since reportedly asked to be reinstated and her name is included in the most recent list of players in the testing pool, dated October 6. The Athletic first reported Williams' inclusion on the list on Tuesday.

Jill Smoller, Williams' longtime agent, has not yet responded to ESPN's request for comment.

Williams has not made any public statement about a possible comeback, but she did post pictures, on social media, of herself on the court with her youngest daughter.

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)

Per protocol, Williams officially declared herself retired with the ITIA in 2022, which meant she would no longer be subjected to routine drug testing. Her name remains listed on the site as retired, but she would be eligible to return to competition and be listed as a reinstated player following six months of being an active player in the pool. Those players — which includes most in the top 100 — must provide their whereabouts at any given time, every day, and participate in random testing.

Williams' older sister Venus, 45, made her return to the WTA Tour in July following a 16-month absence. After a memorable first-round exit at the US Open, Serena expressed her pride and admiration for her sister on social media and added «P.S. I hope to be like you,» at the end of her post. Venus was asked repeatedly about a potential Serena return throughout the summer, and she