Serena Williams shuts down talk of a tennis comeback

Serena Williams threw cold water on the idea that she might be preparing to return to tennis, writing on social media Tuesday that she is "NOT coming back," after a spokesman for the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said the 23-time Grand Slam champion had registered with the sport's drug-testing body.

That is the first step that would be required by a player seeking to come out of retirement.

The 44-year-old Williams, one of the greats of the game, has not competed since bidding farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, Williams said she didn't want to use the word "retiring" and instead declared that she was "evolving" away from tennis.

It was not clear when or where — or even if — Williams actually will play again, and she later posted: "Omg yall I'm NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy."

Her agent did not immediately return a request for comment.

Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy-

In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre said: "We are aware that Serena has filed the necessary paperwork with the International Tennis Integrity Agency to reenter the International Registered Testing Pool. If Serena decides to return and compete at the professional level, together with her fans, we will enthusiastically welcome the return of one of the greatest champions in the history of our sport."

Williams was one of the biggest stars of any sport, a dominant talent on the court and still someone drawing attention away from it. If she were to end up returning to the tour, it would be a significant story line, of course.

Her decision to place her name back in the testing pool with the ITIA, which oversees anti-doping and anti-corruption