Serena Williams declined to be drawn into talk of a professional comeback during an interview on Wednesday’s TODAY show.
The 44-year-old tennis icon sat down with host Savannah Guthrie, 54, to promote a Super Bowl spot for Ro and to discuss her recent weight-loss progress. Guthrie also raised the topic of Williams’ decision last month to re-enter the Women’s Tennis Association’s drug-testing pool, pressing for whether that signaled plans to resume competing.
“Really? You’re asking me this on the TODAY show?” Williams replied, visibly amused. Guthrie persisted, noting that fans and “tennis nation” would expect an answer.
Williams’ initial reaction was another laugh and an “oh my goodness,” which Guthrie interpreted as a possible “no.” Williams repeated the laugh and protested playfully that the crew’s laughter was distracting. “Everyone on your set is laughing. This is distracting. You’re distracting us over there,” she said, and added flatly that she was “having fun and enjoying my life right now.”
When Guthrie pointed out that a clear answer hadn’t been given, Williams softened only to say she would “see what happens,” a response Guthrie called a “maybe.” Williams quickly corrected her: “That’s not a maybe.”
She went on to emphasize her current priorities off the court. “I have two kids. I am a full-time stay-at-home [mom],” Williams said, joking that when she recently filled in a form she listed her occupation as “housewife.”
Williams first announced in 2022 that she was stepping away from the tour to concentrate on motherhood, though she never formally announced a retirement. She and husband Alexis Ohanian are parents to daughters Olympia, 8, and Adira, 2.
Asked directly about rejoining the testing pool, Williams was evasive: “Did I re-enter? I didn’t know if I was out. Listen, I can’t discuss this,” she stated coyly.
Guthrie tried again, saying that Williams could use the interview to put comeback rumors to rest. Williams laughed and deflected, quipping that she wanted to go to bed and calling the exchange “fun.”
From off camera, TODAY’s Craig Melvin interjected that he thought he had heard a “maybe,” but Williams repeated that no “maybe” had been given.
Last month, after news surfaced about her reappearance on the testing list, Williams took to social media to deny plans to return to competition, calling the speculation overblown.
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