Serena Williams Officially Returning 4 Years After “Evolving Away From Tennis”
Serena Williams is so back.
Four years after the 23-time Grand Slam title winner announced her retirement from the professional tennis circuit, she confirmed June 1 she will return to play competitively at the Queen’s Club Championship in London later this month.
The 44-year-old—who shares Olympia, 8, and Adira, 2, with husband Alexis Ohanian—shared a social media post of her on a tennis court as her phone blows up with notifications.
“Guess everybody heard the news,” a line of text reads over the video as Serena jokingly adds, “I’ve got to change my number.”
Alongside the video, which was co-posted with Nike, Serena wrote in the caption, “Good news travels fast.”
Serena’s return to her sport comes after she admitted something “had to give” amid her time balancing playing with growing her family. However, she pushed back against the retirement narrative, even while confirming she was stepping back in August 2022.
“I have never liked the word retirement,” Serena told Vogue at the time. “It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution.”
Indeed, the athlete had previously shared she felt pulled back to the sport amid retirement, too.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
“It’s interesting,” she told E! News in 2023. “I think I feel torn because I'm still able to play at a very, very, very high level. With that being said, I always wanted to leave the game playing at a very high level. But it's hard because it's like, 'Oh my gosh, I could still play, and I could still do all that stuff.’”
She could, and now she will as she makes her comeback—but has also established a balance in her career as a businesswoman as well as in her personal life.
“I've been playing tennis for literally, literally my entire life,” she explained to E! at the time. “My entire being and knowing is just what I've done. So now, I'm inch by inch finding my way. Obviously, I love other businesses that I've done. But just inch by inch leaning into that and leaning into my family and leaning into just having fun. I think it's so important to do all those and still create that balance.”
One way Serena creates balance? In her personal life with Alexis and their daughters. Keep reading for a look back at their sweet love story…
Serena WIlliams/Instagram
Family Time
While celebrating seven years of marriage in November 2024, Serena thanked her husband for making every day special—including making an "average November day a costume party and making it special."
Serena Williams/Instagram
Parents' Night Out
The couple proved they enjoy lowkey date nights just as much as their extravagant trips in a sweet glimpse into a night out in September 2024.
Serena Williams/Instagram
Growing Family
Serena and Alexis welcomed their second baby girl, Adira, in August 2023.
Serena Williams/Instagram
Farm Day
Months before expanding their brood, Serena shared a sweet glimpse into some quality family time, writing on Instagram in Sept. 2022, "Family day on the farm."
In July 2018, the tennis champion wanted Italian food for dinner so her husband flew her to Venice, Italy. Talk about a dream date!
The adorable couple enjoyed a day out with their little one in summer 2018.
In May 2018, Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams jetted off to Paris to visit the zoo where they had their first date—with an extremely adorable plus one, Olympia, who was born eight months prior.
The power couple looked stunning as they celebrated the marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in England in May 2018.
Even though the duo was in England to celebrate the newly dubbed Duke and Duchess of Sussex, their gorgeous ensembles at the wedding and the reception had us thinking they were the royal couple for the night!
Every year the couple has a special day called Selexis day where it's all about them. In April 2018, Williams gave insight to their tradition, which—that year—was her turn to plan. She had her husband go on a scavenger hunt that ended at a venue with his childhood friends, a live band and karaoke. Oh, and they recreated their wedding cake and ate it together since they never had a piece at their actual wedding. Pretty fun, right?
JOHN NACION/startraksphoto.com
The happy couple stole the show as they stepped out for the premiere of Williams' HBO documentary series Being Serena in April 2018.
Richard Shiro/Getty Images
In addition to cheering on his wife at as many of her tennis matches as possible, Ohanian takes in a ton of sporting events with Williams. Together they are all about Team USA, and it makes us love them even more.
When Williams isn't playing tennis she is participating in Spartan races with her closest friends and family, which of course includes her husband.
These two definitely clean up well and are always up for a fundraising gala.
Mel Barlow & Co. / Allan Zepeda / Brides.com
In November 2017, Williams and Ohanian tied the knot in New Orleans and it was pure magic. The couple looked so happy throughout the night and we're still not over the Olympic athlete's gorgeous wedding gown.
In May 2017, the lovebirds took a trip to France. While there they took their romance up a notch while taking in all of the breathtaking sunsets.
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Williams looked gorgeous as she stepped out at the 2017 Met Gala and showed off her baby bump for the first time alongside her then-fiancé Ohanian.
Get yourself a man who will carry you for no reason on a beach!
In February 2017, the Reddit co-founder posted this sweet shot dedicated to "My #WCW, every day," and we seriously can't get enough of these two together.
Early on in their romance the duo sported matching bear costumes at a party and it was bear-y cute...get it?
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