Serena Williams Comeback: WTA ex-pro predicts American legend will return to tennis only for a special reason

Serena Williams recently sparked speculation of a comeback after over three years of retirement. Her one-time rival and former top 10 player Anna Chakvetadze has given her thoughts on the matter, stating only something truly significant would pull her back to the court.

It all started when Williams' name appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) testing pool a week ago. For any athlete intending to return to the sport, enrolling in the anti-doping body's drug testing programme at least six months prior is necessary.

When talks of her hypothetical comeback reached a fever pitch, Williams took to social media to issue a firm denial. However, not everyone is convinced of the same, and are hoping that she indeed surprises the tour with her return.

Speaking to Tennis365, Chakvetadze acknowledged Williams' status as a legend of the sport. While she thought the American could be competitive in individual matches, doing so over the course of a tournament would be a different story.

"Serena is a legend of our sport and one of the greatest champions in history. If she ever decides to return, it would obviously be something very special for tennis. In individual matches, especially on the biggest stages, she could still look very competitive. But a full tournament, and especially the two-week Grand Slam distance, is a completely different challenge," Chakvetadze said.

Chakvetadze wondered how Williams' body would hold up in such a scenario. She further added that the latter has nothing left to prove, so she would only return to the tour for something worthwhile.

"The key question is how the body responds to that kind of physical load over time. If she does come back, I’m sure it would only be for something truly meaningful to her. She has achieved everything in tennis, and her legacy is already untouchable," Chakvetadze concluded.

Chakvetadze was a prominent player in the mid-2000s, peaking at No. 5 in the rankings and reaching the semifinals of the US Open 2007. She also scored her only win against Williams that year.

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Serena Williams and Anna Chakvetadze's rivalry is tied at one win apiece

Serena Williams at Wimbledon 2010. (Photo: Getty)

It's quite rare for a player to have a winning record against Serena Williams after multiple matches. Thus, having an even record is the next best thing. Anna Chakvetadze and the American's paths intersected twice, with each player winning one match.

Their very first career meeting took place at the WTA Finals 2007. They played the first match of their respective group, and Chakvetadze came out on top after Williams retired at the start of the second set. The latter immediately pulled out of the tournament after that.

Williams got the opportunity to enact revenge three years later at Wimbledon 2010. She was in fine form, handing Chakvetadze a 6-0, 6-1 drubbing in the second round en route to the title. That became their last meeting on the tour, and the Russian eventually retired in 2013, while Williams hung up her racket for good a decade later after the US Open 2022.