Serena Williams Officially Returning 4 Years After “Evolving Away From Tennis”

Meanwhile, Venus resumed competing in July 2025 after a 16-month hiatus. After losing to Karolína Muchová in the U.S. Open later that year, which had been her first appearance at the tournament since 2023, she remained optimistic about her gameplay moving forward.

“I definitely had a bit of a slow start, but it’s not really a bad thing,” Venus told reporters in a post-game interview at the time. “I just haven’t played a lot of matches, so I’m still finding everything. I didn’t win today, but I’m very proud of how I played.”

Before this most recent comeback, Venus, 45, and Serena, 44, played doubles at the 2022 U.S. Open, where they lost in the first round. That same year, Serena stepped back from tennis to focus on her family and venture capital firm, although it was a difficult decision.

“The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus grand slams,” she told Vogue in August 2022. She added, “Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually it’s extraordinary. But these days, if I have to choose between building my tennis résumé and building my family, I choose the latter.”

As you anticipate the Williams sisters’ return to Wimbledon, read on to check out which star attendees watched last year’s tournament…